College Catalog

One College Avenue, Williamsport PA 17701-5799 · (570) 326-3761 or (800) 367-9222

Emergency Medical Services (ER)
Academic School: Health Sciences
(Effective Fall 2009)

Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)

This major is a 71-credit, two-calendar-year program that exceeds the College's core requirements for an associate of applied science degree. Extensive classroom, laboratory, and clinical/field experience prepare the graduate to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician examination and become certified as an EMT-Paramedic. Major area course work meets or exceeds the educational standards prescribed by the National Standard Curriculum for EMT-Paramedic. In addition to major area course work, students complete directed health electives to support, develop, and/or enhance their role as public safety and health care providers. A scholarly written presentation will be completed in the final semester to synthesize, analyze, and develop solutions to a pre-hospital health care issue or problem.

Career Opportunities:  Most paramedics are hired by private service, fire department, municipal/governmental, or hospital-based ambulance companies. Opportunities to specialize as a paramedic include tactical medicine with police departments, critical care inter-facility transport including aeromedical services, disaster management with technical rescue teams, primary healthcare within the federal prison system and industrial medicine including oil rigs. Advancement within the Emergency Medical Services profession includes administrative, governmental, public health, and education. Promotion often requires academic degree credentials.

Recommended High School Subjects:  Students should take four units of high school English, three units of social studies (preferably including one psychology or one sociology), three units of mathematics (one of which is Algebra I or Applied Math II (with Algebra II preferred), and three units of science with a related laboratory (anatomy & physiology preferred). Because of the strong emphasis on science in this major, applicants must have successfully completed one year of high school biology. Students who do not meet these recommendations can work with a College adviser to prepare for the program.

Special Admissions Requirements:  Acceptance into this competitive major is based on a selective admissions process. To view detailed information on acceptance criteria, testing requirements, performance expectations, and the admissions ranking system, consult the following website: http://www.pct.edu/catalog/specialadmission.htm

Remediation Strategies:  All entering students will be tested for English, math, and reading deficiencies. Students are expected to remediate any deficiencies as explained in this catalog (see http://www.pct.edu/catalog/PlacementTesting.htm ).

Transfer Procedures:  This major is subject to the transfer standards established by the College (see http://www.pct.edu/catalog/TransferringCredits.htm ). Exceptions must be approved by the school dean. Students successfully completing this major may be eligible for acceptance into the College's Applied Health Studies or Technology Management bachelor-degree major. Students desiring transfer into these bachelor-degree majors must work closely with an adviser to choose appropriate, transferable courses.

Program Goals:  A graduate of this major should be able to:

• comprehend, apply, and integrate the cognitive knowledge essential to function as an EMT-Paramedic.
• demonstrate appropriate level of technical capability and proficiency with psychomotor skills and assessment.
• demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with professional expectations of an entry-level EMT-Paramedic as related to roles, responsibilities, well being, and legal and ethical guidelines.
• function and react as an entry-level EMT-Paramedic, applying the problem-solving, decision-making, and critical-thinking skills required for assessment-based management in various clinical settings.
• recognize and demonstrate the importance of adapting pre-hospital care to a diverse patient population of age, gender, culture, religion, and background within a community.
• apply therapeutic and professional communication skills when working with patients, patients' significant others, colleagues, other health care providers, and members of the community.
• demonstrate regard for information literacy by utilizing library and other learning resources to gather, interpret, and report information.
• employ fundamental computer skills as applicable to work environment.
• demonstrate enhanced competency with public, interpersonal, intercultural, foreign language, technical and/or professional communication skills.
• apply a broad intellectual aptitude and awareness with regard to pure science, management, psychology, sociology, human services, personal wellness, and/or cultural diversity to support and enhance role as a public safety and health care professional.
• recognize the dynamic integration of liberal arts, sciences, and professional education as a component of life long learning.

Performance Standards:  Progression in this major is dependent on earning a grade of 'C' (2.0) in each major-specific course.

MTH 150 or higher is suitable for students desiring continuation to bachelor degree.

PMP 103 requires Pennsylvania Department of Health EMT-Basic Certification to register. (Credit by exam is available for demonstrated competency via written and practical examination.)

PMP 122 - Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (8 cr.) is required if not certified as an EMT-Basic.

CPR is required in the EMT-Paramedic curriculum. Students can challenge FIT 111 to meet this requirement.

Additional Information:  In addition to tuition, fees, textbooks, and other standard student costs, paramedic students will be responsible for additional costs to include (but not limited to): travel to clinical/field rotations, a complete medical and dental examination, student malpractice insurance, health insurance, hospital and field uniforms, criminal record clearance, drug testing, and certification exams.

Notice of Conviction:  Child abuse clearance and criminal background checks are required by some agencies involved in fieldwork and/or capstones. Agencies can bar students from their sites if a criminal record exists or a positive drug test is noted. By virtue of contract for Penn College students to be at clinical sites, agencies have the right to ask for random drug testing. Inability to gain clinical or fieldwork or intern education experiences results in inability to meet program objectives or outcomes.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health advises that a drug abuse or criminal record can result in ineligibility to take the Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic certification exam, thereby limiting employment opportunities as an EMT-P.

For additional clarification, students can speak with the Program Director or the Dean of Health Sciences.

Accreditation:  The Penn College Emergency Medical Services major is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP); Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1970, Chicago, IL 60601-2208, (312) 553-9355. The major is also accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services.

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