Academic Catalog

EMS 200: PARAMEDIC ACADEMY

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2022
Units: 1.5
Hours: 6 lecture, 36 laboratory per quarter (42 total per quarter)
This is a 1 week course.
Prerequisite: Current CPR card; current EMT license.
Advisory: Not open to students with credit in EMTP 200.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: None
Grade Type: Letter Grade Only
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Description

Introduction to the profession of paramedicine. Emphasis on paramedic terminology, communication skills, licensure, documentation, patient assessments, and skills proficiency. Discussion of the requirements for the paramedic program. Intended for students entering or considering to enter the paramedic program. This course is designed to prepare the student with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the Paramedic Academy.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate basic Emergency Medical Technician skills.
  2. Define the roles and responsibilities of the paramedic in the pre-hospital care setting.
  3. Demonstrate understanding of paramedic pharmacology.
  4. Demonstrate ability to interpret basic EKG rhythms.
  5. Outline advanced cardiac life support algorithms.
  6. Discuss effective communication and leadership skills utilized by paramedic.

Course Content

  1. Basic EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) principles and skills
    1. Preparatory
    2. Patient assessment
    3. Trauma emergencies
    4. Medical emergencies
    5. Pediatric emergencies
    6. Mass casualty incident management
  2. Roles and responsibilities of the paramedic in the pre-hospital care setting
    1. Scene management
    2. Communications and documentation
    3. Leadership
    4. Stress management
  3. Paramedic pharmacology
    1. Pharmacology math
    2. Drug dosage
    3. IV drip calculation
  4. Basic EKG interpretation
    1. Identify five cardiac dysrhythmias
    2. Advanced cardiac life support
  5. ACLS algorithms
    1. Electrical therapy
  6. Paramedic communication and leadership skills
    1. Team concepts
    2. Interpersonal communication dynamics

Lab Content

  1. Identify five cardiac dysrhythmias
  2. Demonstrate basic skills in airway management and patient assessment
  3. Multiple-choice exam demonstrating EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) and paramedic prerequisite knowledge
  4. Discuss EMT assessment and treatment plan for three patient scenarios
  5. Communication and leadership essay

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Standard classroom and tables as practice areas and audio visual equipment
2. EMS equipment required by the course curriculum, including CPR mannequins, AEDs, OB mannequin, portable airway and oxygen equipment, spinal immobilization devices, splints and bandages, patient movement devices and appropriate patient assessment equipment
3. When portions of the course offered online, students need on-going access to computer with email and internet access

Method(s) of Evaluation

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

The student will demonstrate proficiency in EMT skills and be evaluated through the use of EMT patient scenarios
The student will perform documentation exercises and evaluate students of their understanding of medical terminology and legal requirements of a patient care report
The student will be evaluated through the use of multiple choice exams and read/interpret cardiac rhythm strips

Method(s) of Instruction

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

Lecture
Case based scenarios
Simulations

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Caroline, L. Nancy. Emergency Care in the Streets. 2018.

Foothill College Paramedic Skills Handbook 2021.

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

  1. Students will be required to manage simulated patient scenarios, and will be evaluated on their patient assessments, treatment plans and determine which hospital the patient would be transported to
  2. Students will write Patient Care Reports (PCRs), which will be evaluated for legal documentation content. In addition, PCRs will be evaluated for consistency and completeness

Discipline(s)

Emergency Medical Technologies