Emergency Medical Technology-Paramedic , A.A.S.

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 performance of 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.

Special admissions requirements: Special admission requirements include limited enrollment, and other stipulations. Any interested person should contact: David Kuchta, Program Director, at dkuchta@northwestms.edu or Jennifer Lance at jlance@northwestms.edu. Students who wish to enter the Emergency Medical Technology-Paramedic Program must:

1. Have a valid EMT-Basic National Registry certification.
2. Grade point average of “C” or better in Anatomy and Physiology I with lab (BIO 2513  BIO 2511 ).
3. Be 18 years of age or older with a high school diploma or HSE.
4. Have an ACT composite score of 18 or better or TABE A score of 12 or better.

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 lifethreatening 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. Students need to maintain a “C” average in each individual class in order to continue the Paramedic program the following semester.

A student successfully completing the program will receive an associate degree from the college and be eligible to take National Registry’s Exam as an EMT-Paramedic. This training program is sanctioned by the Mississippi State Board of Health, Division of EMS, the State Department of Education, and the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions. The program meets or exceeds those standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration/ U.S. Department of Transportation.

The curriculum of the Paramedic Program is for four semesters in length, and classes are admitted each fall semester requiring a minimum of 1,500 hours of classroom instruction, clinical, and field internship.