Emergency Medical Services

This course provides students with concepts as related to areas of basic life support to include coronary artery disease, prudent heart living, symptoms of heart attack, adult one-and-two rescuer CPR, first aid for choking, pediatric basic life support, airway adjuncts, EMS system entry access, automated external defibrillation (AED), and special situations for CPR. Upon course completion, students should be able to identify situations requiring action related to heart or breathing conditions and effectively implement appropriate management for each condition. Students successfully completing this course will receive appropriate documentation of course completion.

Credit Hours: 1 

Lecture: 1 

Lab: 0  

Clinical/Practicum: 0

This course provides theory in emergency procedures as contained in the current National Standard Training Curriculum (NSTC) for the First Responder. The course is an introduction to the emergency medical services system and provides fundamentals for students to improve the quality of emergency care provided as the first person to an emergency scene until emergency medical services arrive. Completion of specific student competencies, as outlined in the current NSTC for the First Responder, are required for successful course completion.

Credit Hours: 3

Lecture: 3

Lab: 0  

Clinical/Practicum: 0

The Emergency Vehicle Operator Course - Ambulance provides the student with training as contained in the current National Standard Training Curriculum (NSTC) for the Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC) Ambulance. The course provides the knowledge and skill practice necessary for individuals to learn how to safely operate all types of ambulances. Topics include introduction to the NSTC for ambulance operators; legal aspects of ambulance operation; communication and reporting; roles and responsibilities; ambulance types and operation; ambulance inspection, maintenance, and repair; navigation and route planning; basic maneuvers and normal operating situations; operations in emergency mode and unusual situations, special considerations in safety; and the run. Completion of specific student competencies, utilizing NSTC guidelines, are required for successful completion of this course. NOTE: To qualify for licensure status as an ambulance driver in the State of Alabama, students must successfully complete this course and meet additional requirements as required by the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Credit Hours: 1 

Lecture: 1 

Lab: 0  

Clinical/Practicum: 0

This course is required to apply for certification as an Emergency Medical Technician. This course provides students with insights into the theory and application of concepts related to the profession of emergency medical services. Specific topics include: EMS preparatory, airway maintenance, patient assessment, management of trauma patients, management of medical patients, treating infants and children, and various EMS operations. This course is based on the NHTSA National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards.

Credit Hours: 9 

Lecture: 6 

Lab: 3 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour) 

Clinical/Practicum: 0 

This course is required to apply for certification as an EMT. This course provides students with clinical education experiences to enhance knowledge and skills learned in the EMS 118, Emergency Medical Technician Theory and Lab. This course helps students prepare for the National Registry Exam. 

Credit Hours: 1 

Lecture: 0 

Lab: 0 

Clinical/Practicum: 1 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour)

This course is required to apply for certification as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT).  This course introduces the theory and application of concepts related to the profession of the AEMT.  The primary focus of the AEMT is to provide basic and limited advanced emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possesses the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation.  Topics include: extending the knowledge of the EMT to a more complex breadth and depth, intravenous access and fluid therapy, medication administration, blind insertion airway devices, as well as the advanced assessment and management of various medical illnesses and traumatic injuries. This course is based on the NHTSA National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards.  Requires licensure or eligibility for licensure at the EMT level and EMS 156 must be taken as a co-requisite.

Credit Hours: 7 

Lecture: 4 

Lab: 3 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour) 

Clinical/Practicum: 0 

This course is required to apply for certification as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT).  This course provides students with clinical education experiences to enhance knowledge and skills learned in EMS 155.  This course helps prepare students for the National Registry AEMT Exam.  The student will have the opportunity to use the basic and advanced skills of the AEMT in the clinical and field settings under the direct supervision of licensed healthcare professionals.  Requires licensure or eligibility for licensure at the EMT level and EMS 155 must be taken as a co-requisite

Credit Hours: 2 

Lecture: 0 

Lab: 0 

Clinical/Practicum: 2 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour) 

This course focuses on the operational knowledge and skills needed for safe and effective patient care within the paramedic's scope of practice.  Content areas include:  research, paramedic roles and responsibilities, well-being of the paramedic, illness and injury prevention, medical-legal-ethical issues, therapeutic communications, medical terminology, life span development, ambulance operations, medical incident command, rescue awareness and operations, hazardous materials incidents, crime scene awareness, and Alabama EMS laws and rules.  

Credit Hours: 2 

Lecture: 1 

Lab: 1 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour) 

Clinical/Practicum: 0 

This course introduces the cardiovascular system, cardiovascular electrophysiology, and electrocardiographic monitoring.  This course further relates pathophysiology and assessment findings to the formulation of field impressions and implementation of treatment plans for specific cardiovascular conditions.  Content areas include:  cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, cardiovascular electrophysiology, electrocardiographic monitoring, rhythm analysis, and prehospital 12-lead electrocardiogram monitoring and interpretation, assessment of the cardiovascular patient, pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease and techniques of management including appropriate pharmacologic agents and electrical therapy.  

Credit Hours: 3 

Lecture: 2 

Lab: 1 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour) 

Clinical/Practicum: 0 

This course is directed toward the application of knowledge and skills developed in didactic and skills laboratory experiences to the clinical setting.  Theory and skills are applied to a variety of patient situations in the clinical setting, with a focus on patient assessment and management, advanced airway management, electro-therapy, I.V./I.O. initiation. and medication administration.  

Credit Hours: 1 

Lecture: 0 

Lab: 0  

Clinical/Practicum: 1 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour) 

This course relates pathophysiology and assessment findings to the formulation of field impressions and implementation treatment plans for specific medical conditions.  Content areas include:  pulmonology, neurology, gastroenterology, renal/urology, toxicology, hematology, environmental conditions, infectious and communicable diseases, abuse and assault, patients with special challenges, and acute interventions for the chronic care patient.  

Credit Hours: 3 

Lecture: 2 

Lab:1 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour) 

Clinical/Practicum: 0 

This course relates pathophysiology and assessment findings to the formulation of field impressions and implementation of treatment plans for trauma patients.  Content areas include the pathophysiology, assessment, and management of trauma as related to:  trauma systems; mechanisms of injury; hemorrhage and shock; soft tissue injuries; burns; and head, facial, spinal, thoracic, abdominal, and musculoskeletal trauma.  

Credit Hours: 3 

Lecture: 2 

Lab: 1 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour) 

Clinical/Practicum: 0 

This course relates pathophysiology and assessment findings to the formulation of field impressions and implementation of treatment plans for specific medical conditions.  Content areas include:  endocrinology, allergies and anaphylaxis, behavioral/psychiatric conditions, gynecology, obstetrics, neonatology, pediatrics, and geriatrics.  In the clinical setting, theory and skills are applied to a variety of medical situations across the life span of the patient, with a focus on communication with and management of cardiac, acute care, psychiatric/behavioral, obstetrical, newborn, pediatric, geriatric, and acute interventions for chronic care patients, and patients with special challenges.  

Credit Hours: 2  

Lecture: 1 

Lab: 1 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour) 

Clinical/Practicum: 0 

This course is required to apply for certification as a Paramedic.  This course provides students with clinical education experiences to enhance knowledge and skills learned in EMS 245, 246, and 247 and knowledge and proficiency from previous clinical experiences.  This course helps prepare students for the National Registry Paramedic Exam.  The student will have the opportunity to use the basic and advanced skills of the Paramedic in the clinical setting under the direct supervision of licensed healthcare professionals.   

Credit Hours: 3 

Lecture: 0 

Lab:0

Clinical/Practicum: 3 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour) 

This course is designed to meet additional state and local educational requirements for paramedic practice.  Content includes:  ACLS, PALS or PEPP, ITLS or PHTLS, prehospital protocols, transfer drugs, and other courses as dictated by local needs or state requirements.  

Credit Hours: 2 

Lecture: 1 

Lab: 1 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour) 

Clinical/Practicum: 0 

This course is designed to assist students in preparation for the paramedic licensure examination.  Emphasis is placed on validation of knowledge and skills through didactic review, skills lab performance, and/or computer simulation and practice testing.  Upon course completion, students should be sufficiently prepared to sit for the paramedic licensure examination.

Credit Hours: 2 

Lecture: 1 

Lab: 1 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour) 

Clinical/Practicum: 0 

This course is required to apply for certification as a paramedic.  This course provides students with field experiences to enhance knowledge and skills learned throughout the paramedic program.  This course helps prepare students for the National Registry Paramedic Exam.  Students will utilize paramedic skills in a field setting under the direct supervision of a licensed paramedic.   

Credit Hours: 5 

Lecture: 0 

Lab: 0

Clinical/Practicum: 5 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour) 

This course is designed to evaluate students' ability to integrate didactic, psychomotor skills, clinical, and field internship instruction to serve as a competent entry-level paramedic.  This final evaluative (rather than instructional) course focuses on students' professional attributes and integrative competence in clinical decision-making and team leadership in the prehospital setting.  Upon course completion, students should have demonstrated adequate knowledge and skills, professional attitudes and attributes, clinical decision-making and team leadership abilities to effectively function as a competent entry-level paramedic.  

Credit Hours: 1 

Lecture: 0 

Lab: 0  

Clinical/Practicum: 1 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour) 

This course introduces basic and advanced pharmacological agents and concepts, with an emphasis on drug classifications and the knowledge and skills required for safe, effective medication administration.  Medication pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics will be evaluated for most medicines used in the pre-hospital setting.  Students will also learn how to establish various routes of medication administration and procedures for administering medications via these routes.  Students will also demonstrate mathematic computations for various drug and solution dose administration problems.  

Credit Hours: 2 

Lecture: 1 

Lab: 1 (3 contact hours:1 credit hour) 

Clinical/Practicum: 0  

This course is designed for students in health related professions desiring the knowledge to interpret singular lead electrocardiograms. The course provides concepts in the interpretation of electrocardiograms to include an overview of the electrical conduction of the heart as well as the identification of all categories of dysrhythmias. Upon course completion, students should be able to identify various types of cardiac rhythms.