Emergency Medical Technician

CP = Certificate of Proficiency | 16 hours

Mission

As an integral part of the larger college system, the Emergency Medical Technician program faculty endorses the mission of Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (PCCUA) which is committed to helping every student succeed. The College provides high-quality, accessible, educational opportunities and skills development to promote life-long learning and engage in the lives of its students and communities (College Catalog). The EMT faculty adheres to that mission when offering the Emergency Medical Technician program. The mission of the Emergency Medical Technician program is to provide a high quality educational program that prepares the student to respond as an emergency medical technician to provide care for individuals experiencing medical emergencies or traumatic injuries.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

• Evaluate and treat airway, breathing, and circulation management within the National EMT scope of practice model.
• Demonstrate patient assessment and emergency interventions.
• Exhibit professionalism, safety, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Since enrollment in EMSC 10110, Emergency Medical Training, is limited to 20 students, interested students are encouraged to register early. Enrollment in the EMT course is on a first-come, first-served basis. Students who wish to enroll in the EMT-Basic Course must meet the following criteria:

1. Fulfill all college admission requirements
2. Be at least 18 years of age
3. Submit official high school transcript documenting graduation or official Arkansas High School Diploma/GED Certificate to Registrar’s Office
4. Document a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average in all courses taken at PCCUA
5. Provide SAT, ACT, NG ACCUPLACER scores taken within the last four (4) years that meet the minimum skill level in reading, math, and English or have an 8th grade reading level on the TABE test.
6. Students who speak English as a second language must also take the NG ACCUPLACER ESL Exam to prove proficiency in English. PCCUA does not administer the ESL NG ACCUPLACER on campus; however, official ESL NG ACCUPLACER scores from an authorized testing institution may be accepted for placement consideration. 

Students who meet the minimum criteria may enroll in the EMT course. Enrollment is first-come, first-serve until the class is filled.

After Enrollment

The students must provide the following documents before going to an assigned clinical agency for clinical practice.

1. Completed Health Statement
2. Proof of immunization compliance
   • Current Td or Tdap
   • Two (2) varicella or positive titer
   • Two (2) MMRs, if born after 1957, or positive titers
   • Initiation of Hepatitis B series or positive titer
   • Current Flu immunization
3. Proof of TB skin test
4. Signed communicable disease statement
5. Current US federal or state issued photo ID, examples include:
   • US passport
   • US military ID
   • State driver’s license
6. Comply with drug testing
7. Provide written proof of professional liability insurance within four (4) weeks of the first class meeting. Students who fail to provide proof of professional liability insurance within the first four (4) weeks will be administratively withdrawn from the course. Professional liability insurance must be valid the entire semester the student is enrolled in the EMT course.
8. Complete a criminal background check.
9. Obtain within the first two (2) EMT classes American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support CPR certification. AHA CPR certification that expires any time during the semester the EMT course is offered will NOT be accepted.
10. Comply with clinical affiliation agreements and facility policies pertaining to COVID. 
    

11. Any student who does NOT meet each expectation will NOT be allowed to attend clinical in an affiliated agency and may NOT be able to meet respective course requirements. This policy is effective for students enrolled in allied health and nursing courses.

12. Any student testing positive for COVID-19 will follow PCCUA’s and the clinical agency’s protocol BEFORE being allowed to return to class and the clinical setting.

Students are expected to furnish their own transportation to school as well as to and from clinical area.

Students are Required to Purchase These Supplies Before Class

• Bandage scissors

• Battery operated pen light

• Manual blood pressure cuff

• Protective eye glasses

• Trauma shears

• Watch with a second hand

• Stethoscope 

Immunization Policy 

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a serious communicable disease that can cause extensive damage to the liver and may result in death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified health-care workers who come into contact with blood or body fluids as being at increased risk for Hepatitis B infection. EMTs and EMT students fall into this category. The CDC recommends members of high-risk groups be vaccinated against Hepatitis B and that vaccination should be completed before coming into contact with blood. Based on this recommendation, PCCUA EMT program requires initiation of Hepatitis B vaccination series before entering the nursing program or a positive immunity titer.

Three (3) doses of Hepatitis B vaccine, given at specific intervals, are required for full protection. The vaccine is 80-100% effective and can be obtained from your private or public healthcare provider.  

Influenza

The most effective ways to stop the spread of seasonal flu is for an individual to frequently wash hands and get an influenza (flu) vaccination each year. This vaccination takes one (1) to two (2) weeks to start working and is 70 to 90 percent effective in preventing the seasonal flu. The flu vaccination does not give you the flu! The vaccination helps to protect an individual against the seasonal flu virus but does not protect the individual from all flu strains. Students are required to provide written proof of receiving an annual flu immunization by November 1st of each academic year. In addition, all students will abide by agency policy regarding flu immunization before caring for patients in all affiliated clinical facilities.

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)

Individuals born after January 1, 1957, must furnish proof of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines administered after the first birthday and after January 1, 1968 or positive immunity titers.

Tetanus

Individuals must have received a tetanus booster or Tdap within the last ten (10) years.

Varicella

Individuals must furnish proof of completed varicella vaccination or a positive immunity titer.

Disclaimer

In accordance with college policy as stated in the College Catalog, this publication is not to be construed as a contract between the student and the EMT Program. All programs within the Division of Allied Health reserve the right to make changes at any time in individual courses, the curriculum leading to a degree or certificate, as well as policies contained in the EMT Information Packet, PCCUA College Catalog, and web. Students must be familiar with, observant of, and subject to all rules and regulations of PCCUA.

General Information

The EMT program is a one semester Certificate of Proficiency program. Upon successful completion of three courses (EMSC 10110, Emergency Medical Training course, HIMT 11303, Medical Terminology I, and HBHE 11003, Chronic and Infectious Diseases) students are eligible to earn a Certificate of Proficiency in EMT.

Students who complete the requirements for the Certificate of Proficiency in EMT or complete only the EMSC 10110  course requirements are eligible to apply to take the State of Arkansas and National Registry EMT-Basic practical and written examinations for certification. An Arkansas criminal background check is required. Applicants should be aware that violation of any federal, state, or local drug law or conviction of a crime may preclude certification as an EMT. In addition, clinical facilities also may require a criminal background check and/or drug test as a condition of clinical practice in the respective facility.  Inability to complete the clinical portion of the EMT course because of failure to meet these requirements will result in course failure.

Applicants who have a revoked or encumbered license in another healthcare field are also advised to check with the Arkansas Department of Health and the National Registry to determine eligibility to write the practical and written exams. 

Approval 

The EMT program is approved by the Arkansas Department of Health: Section of EMS and Trauma Systems, 5800 West 10th Street, Suite 800, Little Rock, AR 72204-1763, phone: (501) 661-2262. 

FERPA Policy

PCCUA complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. A student has the right to inspect and review all of his/her records that meet the definition of educational records. No third party has the right to review student records. Directory information can be provided unless the student requests that it be withheld.

Health Insurance

Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas does not provide insurance for its students. The College strongly encourages each student to have personal health insurance, and for that reason, the College has contacted an insurance agency. Forms for this insurance are available in the Registrar’s office.

ACTS

The Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) contains information about the transferability of courses within Arkansas Public Colleges and Universities. Student s are guaranteed the transfer of applicable credits and the equitable treatment in the application of credits for the admission and degree requirements. Course transferability is not guaranteed for courses listed in ACTS as “No Comparable Course.” Additionally courses with “D” frequently do not transfer and institutional policies may vary. ACTS may be accessed on the Internet by going to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) Website and selecting Course Transfer.

Students applying to or enrolled in the Emergency Medical Technician program must be aware that they are required to possess the following skills and abilities in order to provide safe patient care in the clinical setting.

The Emergency Medical Technician program/or affiliated clinical agencies may identify additional essential functions or skills and reserve(s) the right to amend the essential functions as deemed necessary.

Visual ability

• Read for prolonged periods of time either hardcopy or on computer screen

• Visualize small font (6 font) written words and information on paper, computer screen, and equipment

• Distinguish and appropriately respond to multiple visual inputs

• Recognize subtle changes in patient status (ex: patient responsiveness, drainage, cyanosis, etc.)

Auditory ability

• Hear monitor alarm(s), emergency signals, telephones ringing, telephone interactions, calls for assistance

• Respond and react immediately to spoken instruction and/or monitor equipment

• Tolerate occasional exposure to loud and unpleasant noises

• Distinguish changes in tone and pitch in heart, lung, and bowel sounds using a stethoscope or modified stethoscope

• Distinguish sounds and understand verbal communication in environments with multiple auditory inputs

Olfactory ability

• Ability to detect smoke and odors

• Ability to tolerate occasional unpleasant odors

Tactile ability

• Palpate for pulses, temperature, texture hardness or softness, physical landmarks etc.

• Discriminate subtle differences between sharp or dull and hot or cold

Motor function ability

• Handle small delicate equipment/objects or hand-held devices without extraneous movement, contamination, or destruction

• Move, position, turn, transfer, assist with lifting or lift and carry adult patients without injury to patient, self, or others

• Lift, push, pull, or transfer (bed-to-chair, bed-to-bed) an adult or pediatric patient

• Use hands, wrists, and arms to apply up to 10 pounds of pressure to bleeding sites or when performing CPR

• Coordinate eye/hand, fine and gross motor movements

• Perform electronic keyboarding/documentation and/or extensive writing with a pen and/or pencil

• Stand, bend, walk, stoop, squat while providing patient care

Communication abilities

• Effectively read, write, comprehend, and speak the English language

• Communicate relevant, accurate, and complete information in a concise and clear manner both verbally and in writing to patients and health care members

• Communicate and function effectively in environments with multiple auditory and visual inputs

Cognitive abilities

• Perform mathematical calculations accurately for I & O etc.

• follow directions in stressful or emergency situations

• Function effectively in stressful situations

• Remember multiple messages and information

• Adapt rapidly to environmental changes and multiple task demands

• Maintain concentration and focus in professional care settings

  Adapted with permission from the ADNP’s Essential Functions Statement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Disclosure

Students are encouraged to disclose a disability and to request reasonable accommodation for that disability, as early as possible during a particular semester, in order that any agreed upon accommodation may be implemented as soon as possible for the benefit of the student. Written documentation of a disclosed disability must be presented to one of the PCCUA Disability Coordinators who are identified in the PCCUA College Catalog and Student Handbook.

Students with no history of accommodation or who do not utilize an accommodation granted by PCCUA during their pre-licensure educational program may be less likely to receive accommodations on the state and national Registry EMT-Basic practical and written exam.

Arrangements for Reasonable Accommodation

Reasonable clinical and classroom accommodation will be offered providing such accommodation does not alter the fundamental nature of the EMT program in a major way, jeopardize the health and safety of others, or cause undue hardship on the College or affiliated clinical agencies.

1. Make an appointment to meet with a Disability Coordinator as early as possible during a particular semester, preferably before a semester begins. A Disability Coordinator is located on each campus and identified in the College Catalog and Student Handbook.

2. Obtain an Application for Disability Services Form from: https://www.www.pccua.edu/images/uploads/content_files/Students_with_Disabilities-Application.pdf

3. Submit to the Disability Coordinator (1) a completed nd (2) medical documentation from providers which include, but are not limited to, a certified/licensed physician, psychologist, psychometrist, audiologist, speech pathologist, rehabilitation counselor, physical or occupational therapist. Medical documentation must reflect the student’s present level of functioning with respect to the major life activity affected by the disability. Diagnostic information must include specific recommendations as well as the rationale for each. The cost of obtaining professional documentation is the sole responsibility of the student.

4. The Disability Coordinator will verify eligibility and discuss with the student the medically recommended accommodation(s).

5. The Disability Coordinator and student will identify and agree upon reasonable accommodation(s).

6. The Disability Coordinator will complete a Faculty Notification of Services Form, which identifies recommended reasonable accommodation(s).

7. The Disability Coordinator will give the completed Faculty Notification of Services Form to the student.

8. The student will assume responsibility for taking the completed Faculty Notification of Services Form to each of the student’s instructor(s) to discuss the identified accommodation(s) on the Faculty Notification of Services Form. (The Disabilities Coordinator will email the instructors who are teaching courses for which the student has requested accommodation(s).

9. The instructor and student will discuss the requested reasonable accommodation(s).

10. The instructor will sign the Faculty Notification of Services Form indicating his or her notification to provide reasonable accommodation services. Each instructor will keep a copy of the signed Faculty Notification of Services Form for his/her records.

11. The student will return the original Faculty Notification of Services Form to the Disability Coordinator after each of the student’s instructor(s) for a particular semester has/have signed the form.

12. The Disability Coordinator will keep the signed copy of the Application for Disability Services Form, medical documentation, and Faculty Notification of Services Form in the Disability Coordinator’s office.

13. The Disability Coordinator will send a copy of the Application for Disabilities Services Form, medical documentation, and Faculty Notification of Services Form in a sealed envelope to the Registrar’s Office for inclusion in the student’s permanent academic record.

14. Requests to rescind or modify any accommodation must be submitted in writing to the student’s Disability Coordinator and all instructors providing reasonable accommodation(s) for a particular semester.

15. The request to receive accommodation services for a disclosed disability MUST BE REPEATED each and every semester the student is enrolled. However, documentation does not need to be presented to the Disabilities Coordinator each semester unless the status of a disability changes requiring a different level of accommodation.

Confidentiality

Information in the student’s disability file is confidential. Information pertaining to the student’s disability will be maintained in a sealed envelope in the student’s permanent academic record. Information about the existence and the relevant limitations of a disability and the accommodation for which a student is eligible will be disclosed only with the student’s written permission. The student must provide written permission for disclosure to secure academic and support services (parking, library usage, etc.). The graduate assumes sole responsibility for contacting the respective state board of nursing to request accommodation during the licensure exam.

Appeal

A student may appeal a decision concerning accommodation by first requesting an informal meeting with a Disability Coordinator and Vice Chancellor for Instruction and instructor if applicable. If the issue is not resolved, the student may activate the formal grievance process as outlined in the PCCUA Policy and Procedure Manual. 

Criminal Background Check

All PCCUA Allied Health programs require each Allied Health student to complete an annual national and State of Arkansas criminal background check, which includes a Social Security and National Sex Offender check, as well as a drug test. All students must complete these requirements through the background check and drug testing provider designated by the College.

In addition, all students assigned to clinical agencies in the State of Mississippi will be required to also complete a criminal background check through the Mississippi Department of Health as directed by the clinical agency. Each respective program director/coordinator will provide the student with specific instructions for background checks through the Mississippi Department of Health. No other criminal background checks will be accepted. The cost incurred for complying with the above policy is the sole responsibility of the student.

If a student has positive results on the VerifyStudents and/or Mississippi Department of Health criminal background check, the respective program director/coordinator will send the student’s positive results to the designated individual(s) at the student’s assigned clinical agency. Representatives from the clinical agency will determine if the student is eligible to access the facility to participate in clinical learning experiences.  It is the student’s sole responsibility to provide the designated clinical agency representative(s) with any documentation required to determine eligibility for access. 

If representative(s) from the student’s assigned clinical agency deny the student access to the clinical facility, the student will not be able to fulfill respective program requirements in the clinical setting.  The student will be required to withdraw from the respective allied health program, and the student will not be eligible for readmission to the respective program or any other PCCUA allied health program.  If representatives from the student’s assigned clinical agency allow a student with positive criminal background results to participate in clinical learning experiences in that agency, this does not provide a future guarantee that the student will be allowed to participate in clinical in another agency or that the student will be allowed to take the respective licensing exam.

Students who are dismissed from an allied health program for an unacceptable criminal background check will not be eligible for tuition or fee refunds for allied health courses with a NURS, PNUR, ISHP, MLSC, ALHE, or EMSC prefix.

Annual Drug Screening Test

PCCUA will require all allied health students to submit to a drug test under any or all of the following circumstances:

• Annually each academic year as directed by the respective program director/coordinator
• As a part of a drug abuse recovery program

Failure to comply with the scheduled drug test may result in immediate dismissal from the program.

If a student fails a drug test, the student will be dismissed from all allied health programs. The respective program director/coordinator will refer the individual failing the drug test for therapeutic counseling regarding drug withdrawal and rehabilitation.  

The readmission process to the same allied health program or admission process to another allied health program, for a student, who has previously failed a drug test, to any allied health program will include:

• Attendance at Narcotics Anonymous or recognized drug abuse treatment program of choice. Evidence of participation must be sent to the Dean of Allied Health and respective program director/coordinator.
  • Acceptable evidence from NA shall consist of:
    • Written record of at least the date of each meeting
    • Name of group attended
    • Meeting purpose
    • Signed initials of the group or district representative of each group attended.
  • Acceptable evidence from a drug abuse treatment program of the individual’s choice shall consist of:
    • Verifiable completion certificate
• Demonstrate at least six (6) months of drug abuse abstinence immediately prior to admission to the same allied health program or admission to another allied health program. Annual and random testing will be required at the individual’s expense.
• Provide positive letters of reference from employers, if any, within the last six (6) months.
• If the student is readmitted to the program or admitted to another allied health program and the individual fails another drug test, the student will be dismissed from the respective program and will not be eligible for readmission to, or provided a reference for any allied health program.
• Reentry policies apply.
• Students who are dismissed from any and all PCCUA allied health programs for failing a drug screening test in violation of this policy will not be eligible for tuition and fee refunds for allied health courses with a NURS, PNUR, ISHP, MLSC, ALHE, or EMSC prefix.