Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic AAS

PURPOSE: To prepare students to be knowledgeable, competent, entry-level, pre-hospital care practitioners and fill positions at the level of Paramedic.

OCCUPATIONAL / PROGRAM OBJECTIVES: To prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge),psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. Successful performance in this program qualifies the student to take the Paramedic exam.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: General college curricular admission

PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the general college curriculum admissions requirements, the student must possess a current Virginia EMT Certification and a valid CPR card from either the American Heart Association-BLS Provider or the American Red Cross - Professional Rescuer/BLS. BIO 145  (A & P) is a pre-requisite to enroll in the Paramedic Program starting Fall 2022.   BIO 145 requires a minimum grade of “C” (70-79) under the Biology department’s grading scale.

In compliance with the Virginia State Board of Health and Virginia EMS regulations (12 VAC 5-31-1200 and 12 VAC 5-31-1460), students wishing to register for Paramedic courses with an EMS prefix must be at least 18 years of age at the time of enrollment into the program. Students younger than 18 are eligible to enroll in EMS 100 , EMS 111  & EMS 120  if not already an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). 

A new Paramedic Cohort will start every fall semester unless otherwise noted.  Students must meet with the EMS Program Coordinator for additional advising and enrollment into the Paramedic program. Course enrollment permission is required.

The average length of this program is two years (5 semesters) that will meet once a week (day) or twice weekly (night) with an anticipated spring graduation. All students must possess VA EMT Certification to enroll in a fall Paramedic Cohort.  

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the regular college tuition and fees, the EMS program requires the items listed below. The costs listed are estimates and subject to change.

Textbooks (ACLS,PHTLS, PALS/PEC, and AMLS)	$446.00
Castlebranch Registration, Compliance Tracker (Immunization Records, Background Check and Drug Testing)	$101.75
FISDAP/Platinum Scheduler and Final Exams Platinum Planner & EMS testing	$225.00 $183.00
Uniforms (Boots, Belt, Pants,Two Reynolds EMS Program Shirts)	$100.00
Testing Fees:
National Registry Paramedic Cognitive Examination(Written)	$152.00
Health Assessment Physical (required for Paramedic program only)	varies according to student’s doctor fees
Total Estimated Program Fees	$1207.75

To determine current tuition and fees, visit www.reynolds.edu/pay_for_college/tuition.aspx or call the School of Health Professions office at (804) 523-5375. The instructor will inform students of the textbooks and other required learning materials needed in the syllabus for each course.

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS REQUIREMENTS: The functional skills listed below apply to students entering the EMS - Paramedic AAS degree program. Students entering this program must have the ability to, but not limited to:

• Verbally communicate in person, via telephone and telecommunications using the English language;
• Hear spoken information from co-workers, patients, physicians, and dispatchers and sounds common to the emergency scene;
• Lift, carry, and balance a minimum of 125 pounds equally distributed (250 pounds with assistance), a height of 33 inches, and a distance of 10 feet;
• Read and comprehend written materials under stressful conditions;
• Use a prescribed format to document patient information in writing or by entry into a computer program;
• Demonstrate manual dexterity and fine motor skills, with ability to perform all tasks related to quality patient care in a safe manner;
• Bend, stoop, crawl, and walk on even surfaces; and
• Meet minimum vision requirements to operate a motor vehicle within the state.

Please visit http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/instructor-forms/ for a complete list of BLS and ALS Functional Job Descriptions.

CLINICAL/EMS CONTRACTS: Individual contracts are in effect with each affiliate clinical/EMS agency, and these contracts differ in requirements for students. In general, contracts include the following: 

1. Clinical/EMS agencies reserve the right to dismiss a student from their agency at any time. Students must wear the proper uniform, conforming to program and health care agency standards. 
2. Students must follow published hospital and EMS policies. 
3. Students must meet health, immunity, and immunization requirements specified by the affiliated clinical/EMS facility and/or agency. Failure to comply with these requirements will prevent the student from meeting specific course learning outcomes required for program progression and completion. 
4. Students release the facility, its agents, and its employees from any liability for any injury or death to self or damage to personal property arising out of the clinical agreement or use of the facility. (Assessment of Risk document is signed and on file, once the student is accepted into the program.) 
5. Students are financially responsible for any medical care required while in the clinical setting. 
6. Students must have a current American Heart Association CPR BLS for Health Care Provider Certification or American Red Cross “BLS or Professional Rescuer.” 
7. Demonstration of professional behavior is expected at all clinical/EMS learning experiences.  Clinical/EMS preceptors will direct a student to leave the learning environment if unacceptable behaviors are observed. 
8. The health care agency may deny a student participation based on results of background and drug screen. 
9. Students must submit required clinical documents before beginning clinical/EMS rotation. A student who does not meet published deadlines for submission forfeits his/her enrollment.

CONTINUATION IN THE PROGRAM: To continue in the program, students must achieve a minimum course grade of “B” (80) in each EMS course. Students MUST - possess current EMT & CPR certification prior to enrolling in the Paramedic program. 

PROGRESSION THROUGH THE PROGRAM: Reynolds relies on affiliation agreements with community agencies to provide clinical education opportunities for their students. The rapid changes in health care law, standards of practice, technology, content of credentialing examinations, and availability of qualified faculty increasingly necessitate sudden changes in the program’s course content, policies, procedures, and course scheduling. As a result, the college cannot guarantee every student continuous and uninterrupted clinical and course instruction as outlined in the printed catalog curriculum for this program. Circumstances beyond the control of the college may necessitate the postponement of course offerings or changes in the sequencing and/or location of scheduled courses or clinical assignments. Additionally, the college may have to change the instructor for courses after instruction has started.

PARAMEDIC PROGRAM OUTCOMES: CAAHEP Accredited Paramedic Programs and CoAEMSP Letter of Review (LoR) Programs track and report outcome measures annually to the Committee on Accreditation for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). The most current CoAEMSP Annual Report was for the calendar year 2020. There were no graduating cohorts during the 2020 calendar year, therefore there is no data to report.  For the 2019 calendar year, success rate for the National Registry of EMT Paramedic Cognitive exam was 88.5%, and positive placement rate for graduates was 80.6%.  Positive placement is defined by the CoAEMSP as “Employed full or part-time in a related field and/or continuing his/her education and/or serving in the military”.  Positive placement is measured at completion of the program. The most recent retention rate was 73.8%. The direct link to published results are located at https://www.caahep.org/Students/Find-a-Program.aspx

ACCREDITATION Reynolds Community College paramedic program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). The program meets the National EMS Education Standards and is approved and accredited by the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program
9355-113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org