Emergency Medical Technology
Purpose
The purpose of the Emergency Medical Technology program is to adequately prepare students to function as entry-level pre-hospital professional healthcare providers.
Program Description
The Emergency Medical Technology Program prepares the student to provide competent pre-hospital emergency care to acutely ill or injured patients under the direction of a physician. The program provides opportunities for the student to gain cognitive ability, psychomotor skills and professional attributes necessary to function as a pre-hospital emergency care provider. Students satisfactorily completing the EMT coursework will receive a recommendation to sit for the National Registry Examination (EMT). Upon successful completion of the paramedic curriculum, the student will receive a Technical Certificate in Paramedicine with option to complete the academic requirements necessary to obtain an Associate of Applied Science Degree. The student will receive a recommendation for the National Registry Paramedic Examination at the completion of their training.
The mission of the Department of Emergency Medical Technology is to ensure each student receives the best training available to produce qualified, competent, industry- ready Emergency Medical Technicians. Classroom training is provided by dedicated instructors who meet the requirements set forth by Jones County Junior College (JCJC), Career and Technical Education Division (CTE), and the Mississippi State Department of Education (MSDOE). In addition to the faculty, pre-selected clinical and field- internship preceptors, a variety of media resources, and high-fidelity training equipment are used to enhance learning opportunities.
Carrying out this mission requires teamwork between the college, program, clinical education centers the student. As an EMT or paramedic student, your role will be to dedicate yourself to increasing your knowledge of patient care, basic and advanced life-saving skills, and professionalism. Your own personal contribution towards your education is the most important part of accomplishing this mission, and the decision to succeed or to fail is in your hands.
Classroom instruction is comprehensive including a working knowledge of all anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiological processes as well as competency-based instruction in assessment and management skills required for treatment of life-threatening problems in the adult, pediatric, and geriatric patient. Clinical internship requires participation in care of patients in a hospital emergency department that provides medical control to ALS providers in the field and, according to availability, CCU, ICU, labor and delivery suite, operating room, psychiatric ward, pediatric ward, and geriatric ward. Field internship is done with an ambulance service and/or rescue service providing advanced life support services to the community.
The first semester consists of the EMT courses and academic prerequisites which are offered each semester. The curriculum for the paramedic is four semesters beyond the EMT course. Advanced EMT and Paramedic classes are admitted each fall on a competitive entrance basis. The Advanced EMT (AEMT) course runs concurrently to the paramedic program courses for the fall semester and 8w1 for the spring semester. Students will complete the Advanced EMT class to bridge the content required for clearance in to sit for the NREMT AEMT examination during the spring semester. At this point, students have the option of exiting the program as an AEMT or continuing for the completion of the AAS or Technical Certificate in Paramedicine. To be eligible for an Associate of Applied Science degree, the student must successfully complete Anatomy and Physiology I and II, College Algebra, English Composition I & II, Oral Communications, Social Science Elective, EMT courses and all paramedic courses. This education program is sanctioned by the Mississippi State Board of Health. The course meets or exceeds those standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration/U.S. Department of Transportation.
Profession of Paramedicine Description
Paramedics have fulfilled prescribed requirements by a credentialing agency to practice the art and science of out-of-hospital medicine in conjunction with medical direction. Through patient assessments and providing medical care, their goal is to prevent and reduce mortality and morbidity due to illness and injury. Paramedics primarily provide care to emergency patients in an out-of-hospital setting. Paramedics possess the knowledge, skills and attitudes consistent with the expectations of the public and the profession. Paramedics recognize that they are an essential component of the continuum of care and serve as linkages among health resources.
Paramedics strive to maintain high quality, reasonable cost health care by delivering patients directly to appropriate facilities. As an advocate for patients, paramedics seek to be proactive in affecting long term health care by working in conjunction with other provider agencies, networks and organizations. The emerging roles and responsibilities of the paramedic include public education, health promotion and participation in injury and illness prevention programs. As the scope of service continues to expand, the paramedic will function as a facilitator of access to care and an initial treatment provider.
Paramedics are responsible and accountable to medical direction, the public and their peers. Paramedics recognize the importance of research and actively participate in the design, development, evaluation and publication of research. Paramedics seek to take part in life-long professional development and peer evaluation. They assume an active
role in professional and community organizations.
Accreditation
The Emergency Technology program at Jones County Junior College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep. org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 U.S. Hwy 19 North Suite 158 Clearwater, FL 33763
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org
To contact CoAEMSP:
Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for Emergency Medical Services Professions
8301 Lakeview Parkway Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
214-703-4884
214-703-8992 (fax)
www.coaemsp.org
Program Length
EMT: 1 Semester consisting of EMS 1163 (EMT I) and EMS 1174 (EMT II).
Paramedic: Technical Certificate - Three (3) Semesters beyond EMT II.
Associate of Applied Science - Four (4) Semesters beyond EMT II.
These estimates do not include remedial course work or the necessary completion of BIO 2514 - Anatomy and Physiology I and BIO 2524 - Anatomy and Physiology II .
Admission Requirements
The paramedic program selects students by fair, objective criteria. It is open to all interested individuals satisfying the entrance requirements defined below.
EMT
- 18 years of age or older
- Admission to Jones Junior College
- Enhanced Composite ACT score of 16 or above
- High School Diploma or GED
- Up-to-date immunizations
- Hepatitis-B inoculations
- Physical Examination stating that the student is medically capable of the paramedic job demands: physical and emotional
- Negative or acceptable, as determined by clinical facilities, FBI background check.
AEMT\Paramedic
All EMT admission requirements plus:
- Current NREMT certification
- Current state of MS EMT certification (Or Eligibility)
- Health-care Provider CPR certification
- Successful completion of Anatomy and Physiology I prior to entering the paramedic course.
*Students who lack entry level skills in Math, English and Science are required to take developmental courses to gain entrance into the college level courses
Program Reentry
Students who withdrew from a previous paramedic class are allowed to reapply for admission to the program. Unless otherwise requested, and applicable under the advanced placement procedures, the student will begin the program with the next incoming class, complete all coursework and follow all guidelines and procedures applicable to the other students in the class.
Advanced Placement
The department recognizes some students may be eligible for, or require, consideration for advanced placement into the program. Circumstances for consideration of advanced placement include, but are not limited to, previously completed coursework which is not eligible for repeated financial aid due to a grade of “A” or the completion of a substantial portion of a CAHEEP accredited paramedic curriculum (See Institutional Transfer Credit) either at JCJC or another program. Consideration of advanced placement requests are contingent upon the following:
- It has been less than two calendar years since the student was enrolled, and attended, paramedic courses.
- There is a compatible curriculum crosswalk for determining equivalence of the received training.
- The student can demonstrate didactic, psychomotor and affective competency in all required areas up to the proposed point of reentry.
- The student must begin according to the procedures under “Reentry Points”.
If the student requests but is not granted advanced placement status in the program, they remain eligible to enter with the new class from the beginning of the curriculum course sequence.
Advanced placement and reentry will be determined by the appropriate procedures outlined in the EMT/Paramedic handbook.
Institutional Transfer Credit
Any student wishing to transfer course credits for previously completed EMS courses from an outside accredited institution must follow the Jones County Junior College student transfer procedure. In addition, if the courses being transferred do not match the current state and program curriculum, or if the courses are from an out-of-state institution, the student must provide the JCJC EMS department with the curriculum and/ or objectives in which the courses were completed. After performing a gap analysis and objective comparison of the curriculum in question, a decision will be made by the JCJC EMS department and school registrar concerning the acceptance of the courses as credit into the current paramedic program. These students will also be subject to the above listed reentry procedures.
Experiential Learning Credit
Jones County Junior College Emergency Technology Department does not accept credit earned through an experiential learning for any EMS related courses.
Contact
If more information is desired, contact the EMT/Paramedic faculty at (601) 477-4074 or emtparamedic@jcjc.edu.