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: Certificate
Total Credit Hours: 38 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.
Program Outcomes: Graduates of the Certificate in Paramedic Emergency Services will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of human anatomy and physiology, and the underlying pathophysiology of various medical and traumatic conditions.
- Provide appropriate patient care with respect for diverse cultures, values, and beliefs.
- Integrate comprehensive knowledge of pre-hospital pharmacology to formulate a treatment plan intended to mitigate emergencies and improve the overall health of the patient.
- Integrate scene and patient assessment findings with knowledge of epidemiology and pathophysiology to form a field impression.
- Integrate assessment findings with principles of epidemiology and pathophysiology to formulate a field impression and implement a comprehensive treatment/disposition plan for a patient with a medical complaint.
- 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.
- Competently perform all paramedic skills.
- Demonstrate consistent positive behavioral characteristics (Affective Domain).
- Demonstrate collaborative skills, including communication, documentation, and teamwork in the field of paramedicine.
- Demonstrate effective use of equipment and resources.
- 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.
- 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 by the first day of class.
- Students must 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. Students must complete and MAT 098 course levels or higher.
- 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)
- 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:
- A minimum grade of 70% in each paramedic course
- A minimum of 70% on the final exam for each course
- 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 experiences, 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.
- Competent Evaluation of the Affective Domain Criteria
- 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.
Prior to the start of the first practicum course, students must provide appropriate health examination record(s) and all required tests and immunizations, along with a urine drug screen and criminal background checks; a current American Heart Association BLS Provider CPR certification is also required.
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 guideline 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.
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