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2016-2017 Catalog 
    
    Dec 04, 2024  
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2016-2017 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Paramedic Emergency Services, A.A.S.

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Career Programs Building, Room 165

This program of study is designated as a Health Manpower Shortage Program; therefore, some residents of Maryland enrolled in this program of study on the first day of the term may be eligible for in-county tuition rates for courses required for program completion.

Award: Associate of Applied Science degree, A.A.S.

Total Credit Hours: 64 credit hours.

Purpose: This program, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and approved by The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS), prepares students to sit for the National Registry Written and Practical Examination and state licensure as Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic. There is a fee for the national exam.

Curriculum: The curriculum is divided into several areas of study and consists of lecture, laboratory, clinical experience, and field experience. Emphasis is placed on the knowledge and skills of the paramedic to meet the needs of individuals in times of an emergency. Courses in general education provide the student with the scientific and social background to function as an effective person, citizen, and healthcare provider. The paramedic program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Visit http://www.caahep.org for more information.

Program Outcomes: Graduates of the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Paramedic Emergency Services will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of human anatomy and physiology, and the underlying pathophysiology of various medical and traumatic conditions.
  2. Provide appropriate patient care with respect for diverse cultures, values, and beliefs. Integrates comprehensive knowledge of pre-hospital pharmacology to formulate a treatment plan intended to mitigate emergencies and improve the overall health of the patient.
  3. Integrate scene and patient assessment findings with knowledge of epidemiology and pathophysiology to form a field impression.
  4. Integrate assessment findings with principles of epidemiology and pathophysiology to formulate a field expression and implement a comprehensive treatment/disposition plan for a patient with a medical complaint.
  5. Given a variety of scenarios conduct assessments and use critical thinking to manage scenes, determine proper patient care, and evaluate changing conditions. Apply local, state, and federal law and protocols to prehospital practice.
  6. Competently perform all paramedic skills.
  7. Demonstrate consistent positive behavioral characteristics (Affective Domain). Demonstrate effective use of equipment and resources.
  8. Integrate comprehensive knowledge of the EMS systems, the safety and well-being of the paramedic, and medical-legal and ethical issues, which is intended to improve the health of the EMS personnel, patients and the community.
  9. Integrate assessment findings with the principles of epidemiology and pathophysiology to formulate a field impression to implement a comprehensive treatment/disposition plan for an acutely injured patient. Sit for the NREMT-P Examinations.

Admission Requirements
Admission to HCC does not guarantee admission to the Paramedic Emergency Services Program. The requirements below must be completed and submitted to the Office of Admissions and Registration before the first day of class.

  • Students are required to attend a mandatory paramedic program orientation meeting
  • Current Emergency Medical Technician Certification
  • Official transcripts from all colleges attended
  • College placement test scores in English and mathematics. Courses require that students have completed developmental mathematics and English (MAT 098  and ENG 099 ) or have equivalent placement test scores.
  • A minimum cumulative grade point average for all college coursework of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. In addition, a minimum grade point average of 2.0 for all program courses is required.
  • Foreign educated students must have their college and high school transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (WES) or AACRAO International Education Services (IES).
  • Students must be capable of performing the technical standards of the program.

Program Requirements
Students practice selected procedures on each other in the college EMS laboratory. All paramedic students must receive:

  1. A minimum grade of 70% in each paramedic course
  2. A minimum of 70% on the final exam for each course
  3. A mark of P (passing) for both the laboratory skills and clinical experiences. Students who receive a final mark of F (failing) in the laboratory or clinical experience, despite a passing theory grade, will not be permitted to progress in the paramedic program and will receive a final grade of “F” for the course.
  4. Competent Evaluation of the Affective Domain Criteria
  5. A minimum of 70% on an Exit Exam at the end of the program.

An orientation session will be held prior to the beginning of the first semester of the paramedic program. Attendance is mandatory.

Students who do not meet program, course, health, or affective domain standards (see the paramedic handbook and the Web site) that results in termination from the paramedic program by the College are not eligible for readmission. This includes students who cannot meet safety standards and students who violate the college’s Honor Code and Standards of Conduct, the paramedic program’s Standards of Conduct, and the criminal code described by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. 

Fact Sheet

Program Pathway

First Year Fall   First Year Spring
Course Number Course Name Credits   Course Number Course Name Credits
BIO 103 Human Anatomy and Physiology 4   BIO 104 Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4
PSY 101 or SOC 101 General Psychology or Introduction to Sociology 3   Gen Ed Diversity 3
Gen Ed Arts and Humanities 3   ENG 102 Composition and Literature 3
ENG 101 English Composition 3   MAT 101 or 114 College Algebra or Introduction to Applied Algebra 3
TOTAL   13   TOTAL   13

 

Summer
Course Number Course Name Credits
EMS 151 Introduction to Emergency Medical Services 3
EMS 155 Anatomy and Physiology for EMS Providers 4
EMS 181 EMS Practicum I 1
TOTAL   8

 

Second Year Fall   Second Year Spring
Course Number Course Name Credits   Course Number Course Name Credits
EMS 163 Medical Emergencies I 3   EMS 201 Shock Trauma Resuscitation 2
EMS 164 Cardiology and Cardiovascular Diseases 4   EMS 211 Pediatrics and Special Populations 2
EMS 182 EMS Practicum II 3   EMS 220 EMS Operations 2
EMS 210 Medical Emergencies II 3   EMS 221 Seminar in Paramedic Emergency Services 2
EMS 161 Airway Management 3   EMS 281 EMS Practicum III 3
        EMS 282 EMS Practicum IV 3
TOTAL   16   TOTAL   14

 

General Education Requirements (26 Credits)

Arts/Humanities

Behavioral/Social Sciences

Biological and Physical Science

Diversity

English

Mathematics

Paramedic Course Sequence:

Program Requirements (38 Credits)

Degree Requirements (64 Credits)

Selection Criteria

Students will be admitted to the paramedic emergency services program each fall. The paramedic program is limited to 18 students per academic year and a total of 36 students in the program. This limit is based upon availability of clinical locations and the number of clinical hours required by the program.

Criminal Background Checks

All paramedic students who are offered admission to the paramedic program will be required to submit to a complete criminal background check. Criminal background check results are disclosed to clinical facilities as required. If a student is denied access to a clinical site because of the background check, and as a result, cannot meet program requirements, the student will be dismissed from the paramedic program.

Individuals applying to take the National Registry Paramedic exam may be required to submit to an additional criminal background check depending upon the state in which the individual seeks licensure. Reference to various state requirements are the responsibility of the student. National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians provides an explanation of General Denial, Presumptive Denial, and Discretionary Denial, which can be obtained from the Coordinator, Emergency Medical Services or by consulting the National Registry website at www.nremt.org. 

Drug Screen

All paramedic students who are offered admission to the paramedic program will be required to submit to a drug screen. Drug screen results are disclosed to clinical facilities as required. A random drug screen may also be requested at any time during the paramedic program if a paramedic faculty member or a clinical facility representative has reasonable cause to suspect that a student is impaired and poses a safety concern to patients or others. If a student is denied access by a clinical site because of drug screen results, and as such, cannot meet program requirements, the student will be dismissed from the paramedic program.

Readmission to the Paramedic Program

Students who withdraw from, or fail courses in the paramedic sequence, and desire readmission to the paramedic program must submit a letter requesting re-entry to the Coordinator, Emergency Medical Services by October 1, for spring and summer readmission, and by March 1, for fall readmission. Readmission to the Paramedic program must take place within one year of leaving the program. Readmission cannot be assured and is based on progression criteria for each course, highest grade-point average, and the availability of seats. Students who are accepted for readmission must complete the degree requirements in place at the time of readmission. Students who fail or withdraw from a paramedic course after readmission are not eligible to be readmitted a second time.

Transfer from Other Colleges

Students transferring to HCC from other colleges who seek admission as a first time student into the paramedic program must be enrolled as an HCC student. In order to be considered for admission, students must meet the same requirements as other first time students and will be selected according to the same criteria. Official transcripts from all colleges attended must be received by the application deadline. A transfer evaluation will be done on all transcripts by the Office of Admissions and Registration to determine which courses a student may transfer to HCC for credit. Required science courses that are older than five years must be repeated.  Online science labs are not accepted in transfer.

Transfer from Other Paramedic Programs

Students transferring to HCC who have been enrolled in another paramedic program must be enrolled as an HCC student and submit transcripts from all colleges attended. A transfer evaluation will be done on all transcripts by the Office of Admissions and Registration to determine which courses a student may transfer to HCC for credit. Required science courses that are older than five years must be repeated. In addition to the transfer evaluation, the student’s transcript will be forwarded to the Coordinator, Emergency Medical Services for an additional evaluation. An interview with the Coordinator, Emergency Medical Services, the program’s Medical Director, and a reference check from the student’s previous paramedic program may be required. A decision is then made by the Coordinator and the Medical Director as to whether the student will be admitted to the paramedic program. Any decision made by the Coordinator and the program’s Medical Director is considered final.

Technical Standards

There are technical standards and skill requirements which students are expected to possess and demonstrate in order to be successful in this program. More information on these standards can be found on the Web page for this program.

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