Paramedic

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify specific anatomy and physiology pertinent to medication administration.
• identify basic mathematical principles as they relate to drug dose calculations and administration.
• calculate drug dosages accurately using commonly accepted formulas and devices.
• identify drug classifications and their specific physiological effects.
• list various routes for drug administration in the prehospital setting.
• process drug orders using protocols.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• utilize medical terminology necessary for therapeutic communications in pre-hospital care and with other healthcare providers.
• demonstrate the consistent ability to perform basic life support assessment and patient management skills.
• assist paramedics and other advanced life support providers during patient care.
• identify medications commonly prescribed to patients encountered in pre-hospital care.
• describe the roles and responsibilities of the various types of responders during patient resuscitation.
• differentiate between acutely and chronically ill patients.
• correlate medical history information, vital sign data, and subjective patient complaints with the appropriate differential diagnoses.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• describe the pathophysiology of human disease and trauma, given a patient scenario.
• demonstrate life support skills for patients with specific medical and trauma airway conditions.
• utilize effective communication techniques with patients, bystanders, and other emergency responders in the EMS setting.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify the roles and responsibilities of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel within the allied health system.
• evaluate and interpret pathophysiological findings in prehospital patients.
• appraise and identify patient criticality.
• integrate legal and ethical concepts into patient management experiences.
• identify principles of prehospital pharmacology including medication administration.
• integrate prehospital emergency medications into patient care and management.
• recognize, prioritize, and manage critical traumatic injuries.
• properly diagnosis and manage patients with cardiac and respiratory chief complaints.
• apply critical thinking and clinical decision making concepts during prehospital patient encounters.
• integrate proper communication, documentation, and workplace safety methods during field practice.
• recognize and apply local, state, and national treatment standards to sick or injured patients.
• validate the importance of professionalism and continued medical education.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• integrate knowledge of EMS systems, the safety/well-being of the paramedic, and medical/legal concepts.
• integrate knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of all human systems, and medical terminology into written and oral communications with other health care professionals.
• apply knowledge of pathophysiology of major human systems, and life span development.
• utilize knowledge of principles of public health and epidemiology including public health emergencies, health promotion and illness and injury prevention.
• integrate knowledge of pharmacology to formulate a treatment plan intended to mitigate emergencies and improve the overall health of the patient.
• discuss ethical issues intended to improve the health of EMS personnel, patients, and the community.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• integrate scene and patient assessment findings with knowledge of epidemiology and pathophysiology to form a field impression. This includes developing a list of differential diagnoses through clinical reasoning to modify the assessment and formulate a treatment plan.
• perform a comprehensive history and physical examination to identify factors affecting the health and health needs of a patient.
• relate assessment findings to underlying pathological and physiological changes in the patient’s condition.
• formulate a field diagnosis based on an analysis of comprehensive assessment findings, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and epidemiology.
• effectively communicate in a non-discriminatory manner that addresses inherent or unconscious bias, cultural awareness, and sensitivity in order to improve patient outcome.
• demonstrate professional affective domain behaviors including but not limited to: integrity, empathy/compassion, self-motivation, appearance/personal hygiene, communications, time management, teamwork/diplomacy, respect, patient advocacy, careful delivery of service, and lifelong learning.
• perform interventions as part of a treatment plan intended to provide symptom relief and improve the overall health of the patient.
• evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and modify treatment plans accordingly.
• evaluate decision-making strategy for cognitive errors to enhance future critical thinking skills (metacognition).
• serve as a team member, while gaining the experience necessary to function as the team leader.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• demonstrate use of verbal/non-verbal skills in clinical situations
• perform, complete, and organize patient assessment for both trauma and medical patients
• intervene and initiate appropriate action at an emergency site
• perform a physical exam relevant to the patient's complaints
• identify and report all pertinent information in a systematic, concise manner to the preceptor and or the receiving facility staff
• recall and perform all patient safety considerations before, during, and after patient management
• demonstrate the integration of appropriate affective skills during high-fidelity patient simulations
• perform and manage team leadership responsibilities during all phases of a clinical patient encounter
• analyze pathophysiological concerns while managing clinical patients
• recognize pertinent pathophysiologies in complicated medical patient encounters
• differentially diagnosis prehospital patients with common medical and traumatic complaints
• recognize, develop, and apply appropriate treatment plans for special patient populations

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• integrate assessment findings with principles of epidemiology and pathophysiology to formulate a clinical impression.
• formulate a treatment plan for patients with medical complaints including transport mode and destination decisions.
• assess and manage the major and common diseases associated with abdominal and gastrointestinal disorders.
• assess and manage the major and common diseases associated with cardiovascular emergencies.
• assess and manage the major and common diseases associated with disorders of the eyes, ears, nose, and throat.
• assess and manage the major and common diseases associated with endocrine system disorders.
• assess and manage the major and common diseases associated with genitourinary/renal emergencies.
• assess and manage the major and common diseases associated with hematology disorders.
• assess and manage the major and common diseases associated with immunology system disorders.
• assess and manage the major and common diseases associated with infectious diseases.
• assess and manage the major and common diseases associated with neurological emergencies.
• assess and manage the major and common diseases associated with non-traumatic musculoskeletal disorders.
• assess and manage the major and common diseases associated with psychiatric or behavioral emergencies.
• assess and manage the major and common diseases associated with respiratory system disorders.
• assess and manage the major and common diseases associated with toxicology emergencies.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• define the paramedic roles and responsibilities within an EMS system, and how these roles and responsibilities differ from other levels of providers.
• explain the importance of personal wellness in EMS.
• define the role that ethics play in decision-making in the out-of-hospital environment.
• apply the general concepts of pathophysiology for assessment and management of emergency patients.
• describe the legal issues that impact decisions made in the out of hospital environment.
• integrate pathophysiological principles of pharmacology and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a pharmacologic management plan.
• safely and precisely access the venous circulation and administer medications.
• integrate the principles of therapeutic communication to effectively communicate with any patient while providing care.
• establish and/or maintain an open airway, oxygenate, and ventilate a patient by mastering techniques in Bag Valve Mask, Supraglottic Airway and Endotracheal Intubation.
• use the appropriate techniques to obtain a medical history from a patient.
• explain the pathophysiological significance of physical exam findings.
• integrate the principles of history taking and techniques of a physical exam to perform a patient assessment.
• apply a process of clinical decision making to use the assessment findings to help form a field impression.
• follow an accepted format for dissemination of patient information in verbal form.
• effectively document the essential elements of patient assessment, care, and transport.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• describe the knowledge and principles associated with the acute management of respiratory emergencies.
• demonstrate the appropriate management of a patient suffering from a respiratory emergency.
• describe the knowledge and principles associated with the acute management of cardiovascular emergencies including acute coronary syndrome and cardiac arrest.
• demonstrate the appropriate management of a patient suffering from a cardiovascular emergency.
• demonstrate the skills and ability to treat and manage an adult patient with acute coronary syndrome, or in cardiac arrest.
• describe the knowledge and principles associated with the acute management of traumatic emergencies.
• demonstrate the appropriate management of a trauma patient with complications affecting airway, breathing, circulation, hemorrhage, and shock.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• apply the knowledge and principles associated with the acute management of medical emergencies.
• employ the knowledge and principles associated with the acute management of geriatric patients and patients with special challenges.
• describe the knowledge and principles associated with the acute of obstetric patients and childbirth.
• explain the knowledge and principles associated with the acute management of neonatal emergencies.
• practice the skills and abilities to assess and manage medical emergencies.
• demonstrate the skills and abilities to assess and manage geriatric emergencies and patients with special challenges.
• show the skills and abilities to assess and manage pediatric emergencies.
• demonstrate the skills and abilities to assess and manage obstetric and neonatal emergencies.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• demonstrate use of established treatment protocols and procedures in providing prehospital emergency care
• apply minimum competency in evaluation and leadership of an emergency scene, extrication procedures, patient assessment, radio communications, and use of prehospital equipment and drugs
• interpret scientific findings and their operational impact on prehospital emergency medicine
• specify the legal and ethical responsibilities inherent in the emergency medical services (EMS) profession
• implement competent treatment plans during high-fidelity patient simulations
• generate patient care documentation accurately reflecting all aspects of an emergency response
• employ leadership skills appropriate for the patient condition, resources available on scene, and local EMS system constraints

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• integrate knowledge of causes and pathophysiology into the management of cardiac arrest and peri-arrest states.
• recognize the signs, symptoms, and treatments associated with each type of shock.
• apply ethical considerations during the management of cardiac arrest states.
• utilize trauma scoring procedures to determine patient acuity.
• assess and manage patients with abdominal and/or genitourinary trauma.
• assess and manage patients with bleeding emergencies.
• assess and manage patients with trauma to the chest.
• assess and manage patients with environmental emergencies.
• assess and manage patients' head, facial, neck and spine trauma.
• assess and manage patients with multi-systems trauma.
• assess and manage patients with nervous system trauma.
• assess and manage patients orthopedic and soft-tissue trauma.
• integrate special trauma considerations when treating pregnant, pediatric, geriatric, and cognitively impaired patients.
• demonstrate proper maintenance and operation of emergency vehicles.
• integrate incident management concepts into emergency response.
• understand and utilize concepts of Crew Resource Management during emergency response.
• integrate the principles of Multiple Casualty Incidents (MCI) during specific emergency response.
• demonstrate awareness of core practices and principles of rescue operations, hazardous materials and Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI) due to terrorism and disasters.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• assess ill and injured pediatric patients using medically acceptable standards
• evaluate and interpret pathophysiological findings in pediatric patients
• assess and identify patient criticality, as well as provide life-saving interventions according to PALS standards
• implement communication skills with patients, family, and allied health professionals
• complete the examination process required by PALS

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• assess ill and injured adult cardiac patients using the latest medically acceptable standards
• evaluate and interpret pathophysiological findings in adult cardiac patients
• assess and identify patient criticality and provide life-saving interventions according to the most recent ACLS standards
• implement communication skills with patients, family, and allied health professionals
• complete the examination process required by ACLS

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• describe the physiology of life and death in a trauma patient.
• recognize the components of a complete and thorough scene assessment.
• describe an organized and complete patient assessment utilizing the X, A, B, C, D, E approach on a trauma patient.
• describe and demonstrate the appropriate management of a trauma patient with complications affecting airway, breathing, circulation, hemorrhage, and shock.
• discuss and compare the needs of patients with disabilities.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify common wilderness medical problems
• assess patients in extreme environmental conditions, such as severe heat, cold, altitude, and rugged terrain
• identify resources for further learning in wilderness medicine
• demonstrate proper use of personal protective equipment
• correlate signs and symptoms of common diseases to patients and their primary complaint
• report assessment findings, diagnosis, and treatment plans to appropriate health professionals

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify common wilderness medical problems
• assess patients in extreme environmental conditions, such as severe heat, cold, altitude, and rugged terrain
• demonstrate use of personal protective equipment from biohazards and other objective hazards of wilderness medicine, such as extremes of heat and cold, lack of water, altitude, and other hazards
• demonstrate improvised treatments for common wilderness medical injuries, using minimal equipment
• identify and refine a lightweight survival and medical kit for specific bioregions, such as desert, snow, water, or high altitude
• differentiate between patients with mild, moderate, or severe disease in the wilderness setting
• identify resources for further learning in wilderness medicine

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify common environments and situations
• assess safety hazards in the covered rescue environment
• identify the rescue gear necessary for a given rescue environment
• improvise rescue gear and techniques as necessary
• complete a mock rescue

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• demonstrate mastery of specific job skills in the paramedic field related to an associate degree or certificate occupational program level career as written in the minimum three (3) learning objectives created by the student and their employer or work site supervisor at the start of the course.
• make effective decisions, use workforce information, and manage their personal career plans.
• behave professionally, ethically, and legally during work, consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and organizational norms.
• behave responsibly during work, exhibiting initiative and self-management in situations where it is needed.
• apply effective leadership styles during work, with consideration to group dynamics, team and individual decision making, and workforce diversity.
• communicate in oral, written, and other formats, as needed, in a variety of contexts during work.
• locate, organize, evaluate, and reference information during work.
• demonstrate originality and inventiveness during work by combining ideas or information in new ways, making connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, and reshaping goals in ways that reveal new possibilities using critical and creative thinking skills such as logical reasoning, analytical thinking, and problem-solving.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• assess ill and injured patients using standards promulgated by regional and national certifying organizations.
• effectively obtain, evaluate, and interpret physiological data and assessment findings in the out-of-hospital setting.
• assess and identify the level of acuity of a patient's condition.
• provide interventions that preserve life and reduce suffering that are within the EMT current scope of practice.
• establish and maintain effective communication with patients, family members, rescuers and other health care professionals.
• recognize the indications and demonstrate the techniques for administering medications that are within the EMT scope of practice.
• demonstrate minimum competency in Professional Rescuer level CPR, patient assessment/management and ventilator management skills, and knowledge.
• demonstrate minimum competency in cardiac arrest management, hemorrhage control, and splinting procedures.
• demonstrate minimum competency in spinal immobilization, obstetrics and gynecological emergencies, radio communications, and report writing and documentation.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• assess out-of-hospital emergency patients with medical emergencies using medically acceptable standards
• evaluate and interpret pathophysiological findings in patients requiring medical management such as seizures, diabetic emergencies, and drug overdoses.
• assess and identify patient criticality and provide lifesaving interventions according to national and local standards such as Naloxone administration for an opioid overdose.