PARAMEDIC

Accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health
Education Programs and the State of Tennessee
Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board

The following course of study is for Emergency Medical Services personnel who have current licensure as Tennessee Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and wish to obtain paramedic licensure as a competent entry level Paramedic. The course of study is one year. Classes will meet two days per week. Students will schedule their clinical times however, ALL COMPETENCIES WILL BE MET. The student will be educated from the New U.S. D.O.T. National Standard 1999-2000 Paramedic Curriculum. After being accepted into the program, the student will achieve competencies in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains from didactic instruction, classroom lab skills, actual clinical application with patient contacts under the supervision of a trained pre-hospital and hospital preceptor. Affective or behavior evaluations will occur in the classroom as well as the clinical setting. The student will move from observer to participation in the clinical phase and completing as a team leader in the field internship phase. The student will be reviewed during the various phases of the program in order to be able to progress to the next level. After successfully passing a program competency exam, a summative review for terminal competency will be performed. The summative review will be performed by faculty, preceptors, program director and medical director for recommendation of the licensure exam. The program is accredited by the Emergency Medical Services Division Board (EMS), Tennessee Department of Health and Environment and by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs.

Admission Requirements

The Admission Criteria for the Paramedic program are established by the Division of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Tennessee Department of Health, Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and Southwest Tennessee Community College Emergency Medical Technology Communities of Interest Committee. These criteria are subject to change. In admitting students, the Admissions Committee will apply the latest admission criteria. To be eligible for consideration for admission, the applicant must:

1. Be currently licensed, certified or registered as a Tennessee Emergency Medical Technician-Basic or be eligible. Eligible means the applicant meets all requirements but needs to apply or have applied and awaiting approval for such licensure. Proof of licensure must be made by the beginning of the 2nd semester of enrollment or the student will not be eligible for the participation phase of clinicals.

2. Have a minimum 2.5 ranking on the EMS prescribed evaluations, which include a written examination, a psychological evaluation, and a personal interview. Class is chosen from applications with the highest ranking from the above tests.

3. Non-residents of Shelby/Fayette counties, who meet admission requirements, will be selected on space available basis. The applicant will meet two phases of admission.

The Admissions Office will collect and determine if the applicant has met the criteria for college admission into a technical certificate program. The department will collect and rank the following information for admission to the program:

• test scores from the written examinations

• MMPI scores from the psychological profiles

• oral interview scores from the oral interview

• copy of the current EMT license or proof of eligibility

• competency in Math, Writing, Reading and Anatomy and Physiology

When all information has been compiled, an EMT program representative and an Admissions Office representative will meet and certify the paramedic applicant pool. Certification will be determined by clearance from the Admissions office and the EMT program. Clearance will be defined as having met the criteria from both Admissions and EMT program.

Retention Policy 

Students must comply with the following retention policies established by the Division of EMS, Tennessee Department of Health and Environment, Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Programs, State of Tennessee Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board and Southwest Tennessee Community College Emergency Medical Technology Communities of Interest Committee.

1. Complete and return all required forms and documents

2. Successfully complete all competencies as defined by the EMS program standards.

3. Demonstrate proficiency using skills acquired during training which verify knowledge and technical capabilities in emergency care.

4. Attend all classes, on time, and in compliance with all clinical and departmental rules and regulations.

5. Meet all standards.

6. Maintain a QPA of 2.00 in all EMT courses.

7. Must successfully pass the Paramedic Program competencies before taking National Registry.

8. Must pass each section of the program comprehensive written and practical before taking National Registry.

9. Must successfully move from observer to Team Leader.

Plan of completion

1. Meet all pre-admission testing criteria
     COMPASS test
     Anatomy and Physiology competency exam
     EMT knowledge assessment exam
     MMPI-psychological profile
     sit for oral interview
     final overall score form all tests must meet the minimum of 2.5.

2. Must attend a two day program orientation.

3. Must sign an acceptance form for the paramedic student position and agree to all rules and regulations.

4. Must register for each semester.

5. Must be able to meet any travel requirements.

6. Must have a medical clearance.

7. May be required to undergo a background check, drug screening or communicable disease testing at anytime before or during the program.

8. Must purchase all equipment and supplies as agreed upon in the orientation.

9. Must undergo education in HIPAA and blood-borne pathogens.

10. Must obtain malpractice insurance with a minimum of 1-3 million dollars coverage.

11. Must obtain a clinical uniform.

12. Must successfully complete all cognitive competencies with a minimum grade of 80% from each instructor.

13. Must successfully pass all psychomotor and clinical competencies.

14. Must meet a minimum score of 2 on all affective competencies.

15. Must attend a human cadaver lab.

16. Must submit research and implement an injury prevention project.

17. Must keep and submit periodically a clinical and personal journal.

18. Must present actual patient case contacts at the end of each semester.

19. Must complete a ten-page paper.

20. Must complete the objective packet.

21. Must complete items 1-20 before being considered for team leader.

22. Must complete 50 patient contacts as team leader.

23. Must pass program comprehensive exam within one semester beyond the school scheduled semester completion date.

24. Must undergo a successful summative review.

25. Must be deemed as a competent entry level paramedic by the faculty, preceptors, program director and medical director.

26. Must attend a program sponsored graduation.

27. Must complete paperwork for licensure examination.