Emergency Medical Science A.A.S (A45340)

Program Description

The Associate Degree Emergency Medical Science curriculum provides individuals with the knowledge, skills and attributes to provide advanced emergency medical care as an entry-level paramedic for the critical, emergent, and non-urgent patients who access the out-of-hospital emergency medical system and prepares graduates to enter the workforce.

Students will gain complex knowledge, competency, and experience while employing evidence-based practice under medical oversight, and serve as a link from the out-of-hospital environment into the healthcare system.

Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to take North Carolina and/or national credentialing examinations. Employment opportunities include clinicians of emergency medical services, fire departments, rescue agencies, hospital specialty areas, medical clinics, industry, educational, and government agencies.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program should be able to:

• Demonstrate the cognitive knowledge, application, and evaluation expected of an entry-level paramedic and as necessary function in a variety of healthcare settings.
• Demonstrate technical proficiency across a broad range of paramedic level EMS skills, both difficult and routine.
• Demonstrate the ability to collect data from charts and patients and appropriately interpret the data.
• Demonstrate the ability to thoroughly assess a patient utilizing various diagnostic tools and procedures.
• Recommend appropriate therapeutic procedures and make sound patient care judgements as expected of an entry-level paramedic.
• Demonstrate the ability to conduct oneself in an ethical and professional manner, as well as demonstrate proficiency in interprofessional relations and communications.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate and interact effectively with non-clinical and clinical persons in various healthcare and scene environments.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage time efficiently while functioning in a healthcare setting.
• Demonstrate the ability to use critical thinking skills to access and treat patients in a variety of clinical environments who are complaining of a variety of clinical complaints.

Pre-Emergency Medical Science

Students are admitted under the Associate in General Education degree until they have met the admissions requirements for the program.

Phase I: Preliminary Coursework & Requirements

The first steps for a student’s admission to the EMS program include:

1. Full admission to Alamance Community College.
2. Completion of required developmental courses.
3. Submission of high school/GED diploma.
4. Submission of official post-secondary transcripts for which the transfer credit will be sought.
5. Apply for financial aid.
6. Documentation of learning disabilities that may qualify the student for special consideration.
7. Attend a mandatory EMS program information session.
8. Meet with a Health Sciences Advisor for their initial advising appointment.
9. Students seeking spring semester admission must complete BIO 168 , ENG 111 , and MAT 143  with a grade of “C” or better, and EMS 110  with a grade of “B” or better.
10. High school students seeking admission must meet the same criteria as a non-high school student. Students must be at least 17 by the end of the semester, in which they are enrolled for the EMS 110  (EMT) course.
11. Students actively credentialed as an EMT or higher, may apply for advanced standing in the program. Students that meet this criterion are eligible to test out of EMS 110  and awarded 9 credit hours towards their EMS degree. A score of at least 80% must be achieved on the advanced standing EMT exam.
    (Refer to special admissions process for EMS Bridge program if actively credentialed as a Paramedic).

Phase II: Ranking/Selective Process

1. Complete EMS Selective Admission Application.
2. Complete English and Math placement exam.
3. Submit vaccination records.
4. Complete background check and drug screen through Castle Branch.

All students seeking admission to the EMS program must take an EMS Program Assessment exam (TEAS) prior to the EMS program application deadline. If the test was taken at another testing location, an official score report must be provided. Only scores from the current version of TEAS, no more than two-years old are accepted. The test may be taken a maximum of two times per calendar year, with the highest score being accepted.

In order to academically compete for a seat in the EMS program, a student must complete the EMS Selective Admission Application. This application will be made available at the front desk of the Admissions Office and on the Emergency Medical Science page of the College website. Applications will be made available from April 1 until July 31. Program acceptance is contingent upon the successful completion of all Phase I and II requirements before enrolling in either EMS 130  and/or EMS 131 . Details of this process and the criteria used to rank a student will be covered at the mandatory EMS information session and is available on the Emergency Medical Science page of the College website.

Progression and Continuation

Alamance Community College is committed to the success of students. In order to progress in the EMS program, the student is required to meet the following ongoing standards:

1. Maintain an overall quality grade point average of 2.0
2. Maintain a grade of a “B” or better in all EMS courses.
3. Pass medical math and cardiac rhythm interpretation exams in specified courses.
4. Pass all psychomotor skills and integrated-out-of-hospital exams (TSOP’s) in specified courses.
5. Demonstrate entry-level paramedic competency and satisfactorily complete all of the clinical and field internship requirements in specified courses.
6. Pass any general education course required by the EMS program with a grade of “C” or better.

A student may repeat an EMS course only once within a two-year period. If a student fails two EMS courses in the same semester, the student will not be eligible to seek readmission into the program for one year.

Program Readmission

Students who have earned a “C” or “D” in an EMS course will be considered for readmission using the following criteria:

• Students will be allowed to seek readmission within a two-year period. If the student does not return within the two year period, the student must reapply to restart the program.
• Readmission is subject to current admission criteria and progression policy.
• Grade point average of at least 2.0.
• Returning students will be considered on a competitive basis with the current applicant pool.

Students who withdraw from the EMS program

• Must have completed previous EMS courses with a grade of “B” or better within the past two years. The exception is if the student withdraws from EMS 110 resulting in no earned grade. Students may then seek readmission.
• Readmission must occur within two years of an academic dismissal/failure or withdrawal. A student who makes a grade of “F” in any EMS course will not be considered for readmission.

Readmission Process

1. Submit a letter requesting readmission to the Admissions Counselor for Health Science programs (Student Success / Admissions) and the EMS Department Head. Student contact information must be included in the letter (current email address and phone number).

• The letter must be submitted 60 days prior to the semester when readmission is desired and include the following information:
  • Reasons for interruption of the previous enrollment.
  • Past performance in the Emergency Medical Science (EMS) program to include academic standing at time of dismissal or withdrawal.
  • Documentation that previous deficits/life issues have been resolved with specific evidence of changes made.
  • A specific academic plan detailing how the student intends to successfully complete the EMS program.
  • Meet with the EMS Department Head and bring a written plan detailing academic success upon readmission.

Readmission is not guaranteed. The following criteria will be used in evaluating the request for readmission:

• Available clinical space.
• Grades earned in core Emergency Medical Science (EMS) courses.
• A grade of “C” or better in any general education course that is required in the program.

Important Readmission Notes

Before being admitted in the Emergency Medical Science program, the student is allowed to repeat general education courses to improve grades.

After being admitted into the Emergency Medical Science (EMS) program, the student cannot fail a general education and EMS course during the same semester. If this occurs, the student will not be considered for readmission.

Transfer

Students transferring into the Emergency Medical Program must meet the following requirements:

1. The student seeking transfer must file an application in the ACC Admissions Office. The ACC application must indicate that this is a transfer request and the semester and year in which the student wishes to transfer. The student must apply within two years of leaving the previous educational institution.
2. The student requesting transfer must meet the College and Associate Degree EMS program admission requirements for the academic year into which they which to transfer.
3. The student must have been in good standing at the time they left the previous Emergency Medical Science program and must provide a written recommendation for the Dean/Department Chair of the previous Emergency Medical Science program.
4. The student must have a grade point average of at least 2.0 in all academic work completed.
5. The student must meet with the EMS program Department Head who will review the course outlines, and lab/clinical skill documentation from the previous program in which the student was previously enrolled. This review will determine the student’s potential placement into the ACC Emergency Medical Science program. This review must occur no later than three months prior to the beginning of the desired semester of entry.
6. Selection for transfer will be based on date of application, if Emergency Medical Science (EMS) courses will fit into placement of the ACC EMS program, available clinical space, and compliance with the aforementioned transfer requirements.
7. The student must submit a completed Student Medical Form, documentation of current American Heart Association CPR certification, and current North Carolina EMS credential at or above the level of EMT.
8. The student must complete a criminal background and drug screen, for which the student is responsible for the associated fees.
9. Successful graduation from the ACC Emergency Medical Science (EMS) program, requires that the student have attended 75% of the EMS courses at ACC. Within the EMS Department, departmental policy limits transfer for EMS courses to EMS 130  and EMS 160 .

Special Admissions Process for Emergency Medical Science Bridge Program

The Emergency Medical Science (EMS) applicant who meets the phase I admission requirements and is a current credentialed North Carolina or national paramedic is eligible to receive a total of 47 transfer hours. Following an official transcript and credentialing evaluation, EMS Bridge students must be enrolled in and successfully complete all other EMS and related courses and GPA requirements to be eligible for graduation.

Technical Standards

Students entering the program must meet specific emotional, behavioral, physical, and cognitive standards. This information is found in the Admissions Office and in the program handbook.

Students qualifying for special accommodations to these standards must contact the Disability Services Coordinator at 336-506-4130 for more specific information.

Criminal Background/Drug Screens

Clinical agencies with which the College has contracted to provide clinical experiences for EMS students require the submission of criminal background checks and drug screening in order to participate in clinical experiences at the site. The background check and drug screen will determine if the student is eligible to enter the clinical agency. Students are responsible for the cost of the background check and drug screen.

If a clinical site denies a student placement in the facility, the student would be unable to complete the required clinical component of the course. The student will be withdrawn from all EMS courses and will not be allowed to progress in the program. Currently, the EMS program uses an online vendor for background checks and drug screening.

Program applicants should be aware that if they have pled guilty to, or have been convicted of, a felony or misdemeanor, the Office of EMS may restrict or deny licensure. Applicants are encouraged to review the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services Criminal Record Check Requirements for Credentialing.

Program Costs

The EMS curriculum has additional costs associated with it. Students who enroll in this program are required to pay for such items as certification exams, uniforms, supplies, and the like. Many of these are required as part of the curriculum, but are not provided by the College. Additional expenses required for this program are listed below with approximate costs: 

• Required Textbooks-$1,500
• Uniforms & Supplies-$150
• CPR Certification-$25
• Vaccinations -$300
• Accidental Insurance-$1.50
• Liability Insurance-$16/year
• EMS Testing -$98
• Platinum Planner-$85
• Criminal Background & Drug Screen-$97