Program Requirements: Prior to the starting program courses, the applicant must:

1.  Meet eligibility requirements as stipulated by the Virginia Office of EMS, https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/education-certification/how-to-become-an-emergency-medical-services-provider-in-virginia/ and
2. Meet the college’s general admission requirements.

Program Goal:  To prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician, and/or Emergency Medical Responder levels.

Program Learning Outcomes:  Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

• Perform current techniques in pre-hospital emergency care to include signs and symptoms of illness, injuries, medical emergencies, appropriate medical techniques, and ambulance operations.
• Assess, extricate, and care for victims of trauma incidents utilizing the following management skills; scene size-up, disentanglement, victim stabilization for single and multi-victim situations, hazardous materials incidents, integration of local emergency medical services (EMS) for patient assessment and management, and standard operating procedures.
• Describe the basic pharmacological background and actions of drugs, regulations, human body systems, pharmacokinetics, and drug calculations.
• Demonstrate the advanced life support skills approach to emergency care of the emotionally disturbed to include emotional aspects, approach to the patient, psychiatric emergencies and techniques of management.
• Perform an advanced physical assessment on an emergency patient to include the physical exam, integrative and on-going exams, and communicate/document the findings to the patient and others.
• Perform a pediatric assessment, manage airway and respiratory emergencies, cardiovascular emergencies, neonatal emergencies, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Treat children with special healthcare needs.
• Recognize and intervene in medical emergencies related to toxicology, hazardous materials, infectious disease, and hematology. Include poisoning, drug overdose, and transmission of infectious diseases.
• Identify pathophysiological principles and assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement the treatment plan for the patient with cardiovascular disease/injury based on 3-lead and 12-lead cardiac monitoring and interpretation. Define cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, cardiovascular pathologies and management, and adjunctive diagnostics.
• Utilize assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement the treatment plan for obstetric, neonatal, pediatric, geriatric, and chronic-care patients.

Employment Opportunities

Employment opportunities for paramedics are available with ambulance; fire and rescue services; hospitals; local, state and federal government agencies.

Accreditation

The Southwest Virginia 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 Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). 

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

To contact the CoAEMSP: 
8301 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 111-312 
Rowlett, TX 75088 
214-703-8445
Fax: 214-703-8992 
www.coaemsp.org 

Sources cited:  Further information regarding EMS certifications may be found at:  https://nasemso.org/

Statement for Emergency Medical Services (EMS):

Pursuant to United States Department of Education (US DOE) regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v), the Virginia Highlands Community College Associate Degree in Emergency Medical Services Technology program provides the following information for all prospective and current students:

The National Assoc. of EMS Officials (NASEMSO) has ruled EMS provider licensure and certification to be synonymous and National Registry certification is recognized for reciprocity in 48 of our 50 states.

Virginia Highlands Community College is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Selection Requirements:  To be eligible for selection to the program, interested persons should complete the following process by May 15:

1. Submit a college admission application
2. Submit an application to the program (separate document) with required attachments.
3. Have transcripts of previous college courses sent to the college.

At that time the first round of students will be selected. Should openings still be available, persons who apply or meet requirements after May 15 will be considered.

Accreditation:  This program is accredited nationally by the Committee on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP), 25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL, 33763, phone 727.210.2350.

Physical Requirements:  An EMS provider is faced with many physical and psychological challenges. Please refer to the Virginia Office of EMS website for a more detailed functional job description.

Academic Requirements:  Students must make a “C” or better in all program cores courses. Any student receiving a grade less than “C” will be placed on programmatic academic probation. That course shall be remediated. Remediated course must be completed with a final grade of “C” or better.

Clinical and Behavioral Requirements:  Selected and supervised student experience is required by the program and will be accomplished at selected, regional health care facilities. The student is responsible for transportation to these facilities, as well as to any scheduled field trips. Program preceptors will observe and evaluate the student’s suitability for the profession. If the student does not exhibit those documented behaviors required of the EMS professional, the student might be asked to withdraw from the program.

Other Requirements:  Applicants accepted to the program are required to submit a health certificate signed by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant or RNP and should include documentation of measles, mumps, Rubella (MMR) and chicken pox exposure or inoculations; documentation of Hepatitis B inoculation; Tuberculosis testing; and overall general health of the applicant. A criminal background check and drug screening is also done to confirm compliance with state regulations.

The purchase of items such as uniforms, liability insurance and other accessories is the financial responsibility of the individual student. Students who elect to take support courses recommended by the Program Director prior to formal acceptance into the program will find this activity to be advantageous in subsequent course scheduling.

Program Director:  Bill Akers Jr., MS, NRP, Program Director 276.964.7729 bill.akers@sw.edu

Please see the CoAEMSP Outcomes Summary 1-2020 For program pass rates, retention and job placement.