Academic Catalog

EMS 61C: EMERGENCY MEDICINE SEMINAR II

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2025
Units: 1.5
Hours: 1.5 lecture per week (18 total per quarter)
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade Only
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Evaluate and manage complex neurological and psychiatric emergencies by applying principles of assessment, differential diagnosis, and treatment in prehospital and hospital settings.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of toxicologic and immunologic emergencies by identifying critical signs and symptoms, assessing patient conditions, and implementing appropriate interventions.

Description

Continuation of EMS 60C. This course enriches the core curriculum involving the management of various medical and psychiatric emergencies. The course continues the examination of cardiac care, focusing on advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) using case studies to provide a deeper understanding of the different treatment and protocols, emphasizing principles of equity and inclusivity. Through a combination of lectures, practical applications, case studies, and assessments, students will gain comprehensive insights into advanced emergency medicine. This includes enhancing their skills in patient evaluation and management across diverse populations in the prehospital and hospital settings. Intended for students in the Paramedic Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the various endocrine emergencies found in the prehospital and hospital setting
  2. Evaluate and analyze the significant neurologic emergencies affecting diverse patient populations in the prehospital and hospital setting
  3. Examine the key renal and genitourinary emergencies
  4. Demonstrate proficiency in assessing altered mental status
  5. Implement an understanding of immunologic emergencies
  6. Evaluate the significant ear, nose, and throat emergencies
  7. Demonstrate an understanding of psychiatric emergencies across a diverse patient population
  8. Analyze the various toxicologic emergencies in the prehospital setting

Course Content

  1. Endocrine emergencies
    1. Diabetic emergencies overview
    2. Diabetic ketoacidosis
    3. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS)
    4. Adrenal crisis
  2. Neurologic emergencies
    1. Stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIA)
    2. Seizures
    3. Head trauma
  3. Renal and genitourinary emergencies
    1. Pyelonephritis
    2. Urinary tract infection (UTI) with sepsis
    3. Urosepsis
    4. Kidney/ureteral stones
    5. Renal failure
  4. Altered mental status
    1. Alcohol use
    2. Epilepsy
    3. Insulin overdose
    4. Overdose
    5. Uremia
    6. Trauma
    7. Infection
    8. Psychosis
  5. Immunologic emergencies
    1. Allergic reaction
    2. Anaphylaxis
  6. Ear, nose, and throat emergencies
    1. Ear emergencies
      1. Acute otitis media
      2. Traumatic ear injury
    2. Nose emergencies
      1. Epitaxis
      2. Nasal fractures
      3. Foreign body in nose
    3. Throat emergencies
      1. Epiglotitis
      2. Esophageal obstruction
      3. Peritonsillar abscesses
  7. Psychiatric emergencies
    1. Acute psychosis
    2. Severe depression
    3. Bipolar disorder
  8. Toxicologic emergencies
    1. Carbon monoxide poisoning
    2. Drug overdose
    3. Alcohol intoxication and withdrawal
    4. Exposure to hazardous materials

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Smart classroom with audio visual equipment
2. Emergency medical equipment

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Written tests
Case studies
Class participation

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Interactive lecture/presentations
In-class reading assignments, including but not limited to handout material relative to class lecture
In-class projects, e.g., scenarios for critical thinking

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

No required textbook. Handout materials and online resources (documents, presentation slides, web links, images, videos) will be provided by the instructor and/or presenter(s).

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Reading assignments from online sources, class handouts, and other various sources, ranging from 5-15 pages per week.
  2. Written short answer essay questions and take home assignments.

Discipline(s)

Emergency Medical Technologies