EMS Course Descriptions
Click on links to view course descriptions for various levels of the Emergency Medical Services Program:
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)
Paramedic
Continuing Education Courses
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (EMT)
EMS 118. EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN. 9 hrs.
PREREQUISITE: Admission to program.
COREQUISITE: EMS 119
This course is required to apply for certification as an EMT basic. 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, treating trauma patients, various medical procedures, treating infants and children, and various EMS operations.
This course is based on the Emergency Medical Technician-Basic National Standard Curriculum.
EMS 119. EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN CLINICAL. 1 hr.
PREREQUISITE: Admission to program.
COREQUISITE: EMS 118
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.
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ADVANCED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (AEMT)
EMS 155. ADVANCED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN. 7 hrs.
PREREQUISITE: Admission to program. EMT licensure.
COREQUISITE: EMS 156 and EMS 189 or BIO 201 or BIO 111. *See note below if EMT program was not taken at SUSCC.
This course is required to apply for certification as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT). This course is designed to introduce the theory and application of concepts related to the profession of
the AEMT. The primary focus of the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician 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.
EMS 156. ADVANCED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN CLINICAL. 2 hrs.
PREREQUISITE: Admission to program. EMT licensure.
COREQUISITE: EMS 155 and EMS 189 or BIO 201 or BIO 111
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.
*Transfer students: Students who completed EMT training from a non-accredited program and plan to transfer in as a licensed EMT must take EMS 108, Directed Studies in EMS I, as a co-requisite with EMS 156, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Clinical. Upon completion of EMS 108 with a grade of 75 or higher, the student will be awarded 10 hours of academic credit.
EMS 108. DIRECTED STUDIES IN EMS. 1 hr.
PREREQUISITE: As required by program.
This course offers independent study or computer assisted instruction under faculty supervision and/or theory in an EMS subject relevant to the student's interest and need. Specific cognitive competencies required by the student are defined in writing at the first class period.
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EMS 189. APPLIED ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY FOR THE PARAMEDIC. 4 hrs.
PREREQUISITE: Completion of all required remedial classes (English, reading, or math).
This course introduces human anatomy and physiology and includes concepts related to basic chemistry; fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance; functions of cells, tissues, organs, and systems; pathophysiology; and associated medical terminology. Emphasis is placed on applying content to signs, symptoms, and treatments; and situations commonly seen by paramedics. Upon course completion, students should be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of the structure and function of the human body.
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EMS 241. PARAMEDIC CARDIOLOGY. 3 hrs.
PREREQUISITE: Admission to program. BIO 111 (EMS 189) or BIO 201 with C or higher
COREQUISITE: EMS 242, 244, & 257
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.
EMS 242. PARAMEDIC PATIENT ASSESSMENT. 3 hrs.
PREREQUISITE: Admission to program. BIO 111 (EMS 189) or BIO 201 with C or higher
COREQUISITE: EMS 241, 244, & 257
This course provides the knowledge and skills needed to perform a comprehensive patient assessment, make initial management decisions, and to communicate assessment findings and patient care verbally
and in writing. Content areas include: airway management, history taking, techniques of the physical examination, patient assessment, clinical decision making, communications, documentation and
assessment based management.
EMS 244. PARAMEDIC CLINICAL I. 1 hr.
PREREQUISITE: Admission to program. BIO 111 (EMS 189) or BIO 201 with C or higher
COREQUISITE: EMS 241, 242, & 257
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.
EMS 245. PARAMEDIC MEDICAL EMERGENCIES. 3 hrs.
PREREQUISITE: EMS 240, 241, 242, 244 AND 257
COREQUISITE: EMS 246, 247 AND 248
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.
EMS 246. PARAMEDIC TRAUMA MANAGEMENT. 3 hrs.
PREREQUISITE: EMS 240, 241, 242, 244 AND 257
COREQUISITE: EMS 245, 247 AND 248
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.
EMS 247. PARAMEDIC SPECIAL POPULATIONS. 2 hrs.
PREREQUISITE: EMS 240, 241, 242, 244 AND 257
COREQUISITE: EMS 245, 246 AND 248
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.
EMS 248. PARAMEDIC CLINICAL II. 3 hrs.
PREREQUISITE: EMS 240, 241, 242, 244 AND 257
COREQUISITE: EMS 245, 246 AND 247
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 medical and trauma situations across the life span of the patient, with a focus on communication with and management of trauma, cardiac, acute care, psychiatric/behavioral, obstetrical, newborn, pediatric, geriatric, and acute interventions for chronic care patients, and patients with special challenges.
EMS 253. PARAMEDIC TRANSITION TO THE WORKFORCE. 2 hrs.
PREREQUISITE: EMS 245, 246, 247 AND 248
COREQUISITE: EMS 254, 255 AND 256
This course is designed to meet additional state and local educational requirements for paramedic practice. Content may include: prehospital protocols, transfer medications, topics in critical care and
transport, systems presentation, and/or national standard certification courses as dictated by local needs or state requirement.
EMS 254. ADVANCED COMPETENCIES FOR PARAMEDIC. 2 hrs.
PREREQUISITE: EMS 245, 246, 247 AND 248
COREQUISITE: EMS 253, 255 AND 256
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.
EMS 255. PARAMEDIC FIELD PRECEPTORSHIP. 5 hrs.
PREREQUISITE: EMS 245, 246, 247 AND 248
COREQUISITE: EMS 253, 254 AND 256
This course provides field experiences in the prehospital setting with advanced life support EMS units.Under the direct supervision of a field preceptor, students synthesize cognitive knowledge and skills developed in the skills laboratory and hospital clinical to provide safe and effective patient care in the prehospital environment. Upon course completion, students should have refined and validated their patient care practices to provide safe and effective patient care over a broad spectrum of patient situations and complaints.
EMS 256. PARAMEDIC TEAM LEADERSHIP. 1 hr.
PREREQUISITE: EMS 245, 246, 247 AND 248
COREQUISITE: EMS 253, 254 AND 255
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.
EMS 257. PARAMEDIC APPLIED PHARMACOLOGY. 2 hrs.
PREREQUISITE: Admission to program. BIO 111 (EMS 189) or BIO 201 with C or higher
COREQUISITE: EMS 241, 242, & 244
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.
*NOTE: Students transferring into the paramedic level who have graduated from a non-accredited AEMT program must take EMS 156, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Clinical, as a corequisite to EMS 244. Upon completion of EMS 156 with a grade of 75 or higher, the student will be awarded 10 hours of academic credit. If a student has attended a non-accredited program for both EMT and AEMT, the student must take EMS 156 and EMS 108 as a co-requisite to EMS 244. Upon completion of EMS 108 and EMS 156 with a grade of 75 or higher, the student will be awarded 20 hours of academic credit.
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EMS 266. ADVANCED CV LIFE SUPPORT. 1 hr.
PREREQUISITE: Program approval.
The Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Provider Course provides students with concepts related to advanced cardiovascular life support. Content areas include acute myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular pharmacology, electrophysiology, various rhythm disturbances, and techniques of management of cardiovascular emergencies. The course is taught in accordance with national standards and requires specific student competencies. Students successfully completing this course will receive appropriate documentation of course completion.
EMS 267. INTERNATIONAL TRAUMA LIFE SUPPORT. 1 hr.
PREREQUISITE: Program approval.
This course provides students with theory and demonstration in advanced trauma care and management. Content areas include mechanism of trauma, trauma assessment, airway -breathing- circulation management, trauma to various portions of the body, multiple system trauma, and load-and-go situations. The course is taught in accordance with national standards and requires specific student competencies. Students successfully completing this course will receive appropriate documentation of course completion.
EMS 269. PEDIATRIC MEDICAL LIFE SUPPORT PROVIDER. 1 hr.
PREREQUISITE: Program approval.
This course provides students with theory and simulated case studies in pediatric care. Content areas include recognition of pediatric pre-arrest conditions; shock; basic life support; oxygenation and airway control; newborn resuscitation; essentials in pediatric resuscitation; dysrhythmia recognition and management; vascular access; and use of medications. This course is taught in accordance with national standards and requires specific student competencies. Students successfully completing this course will receive appropriate documentation of course completion.
EMS 273. EKG INTERPRETATION. 2 hrs.
PREREQUISITE: Program approval.
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.