Emergency Medical Services

  What is Emergency Medical Services?

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics work primarily on advanced life-support units and ambulance services under medical supervision and direction. The EMT-paramedic is the leader of the emergency medical services team that provides medical care to patients and interacts with families, bystanders and other rescue personnel in a professional and efficient manner. The overall responsibility is to prevent and reduce mortality and morbidity due to illness and injury.

The emerging roles and responsibilities of paramedics 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 an initial treatment provider and as a link among community health resources.

Graduates are prepared to function as EMT-paramedics and to sit for the National Registry EMT-paramedic licensure examination. The paramedic portion of the program prepares you to manage emergencies of acutely ill or injured patients in out-of-hospital settings and hospital acute-care areas. The associate degree component builds upon the clinical foundation and provides background for individuals interested in pursuing supervisory or administrative career positions in EMS systems.

  Success Factors

Successful paramedics must want to help others, have good physical agility, be able work as a team, have a good driving record, possess good verbal and nonverbal communication skills and have a professional demeanor. Career opportunities are increased when the paramedic skills are paired with firefighting. Felony convictions may limit job opportunities.

  Career Possibilities

A large majority of EMT-basics and paramedics are employed by fire departments, private ambulance services and various EMS organizations. In the past few years, there has been an increased demand for their skills in private industry and businesses and hospital emergency clinical-care areas. Many graduates have used their paramedic knowledge and skills as a basis for pursuing other allied heath disciplines such as nursing or medical school. Future trends are for EMTs at all levels to be involved in community and personnel educational activities, systems design, development and evaluation, and publication of research.

  Majoring in Emergency Medical Services

The following are the goals of the emergency medical services program:

1. Upon completion of the program, the graduate will demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply and evaluate information relevant to the role of an entry-level EMT-paramedic.
2. Upon completion of the program, the graduate will demonstrate technical proficiency in all of the skills necessary to fulfill the role of an entry-level EMT-paramedic.
3. Upon completion of the program, the graduate will demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with professional and employer expectations of an entry-level EMT-paramedic.
4. Upon completion of the program, the graduate will demonstrate the ability to write patient-care run reports consistent with professional and employer expectations of an entry-level EMT-paramedic. 

  Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this program. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently confirmed or enrolled, you can check your degree requirements online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the Course Applicability System (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

FRESHMAN YEAR

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
Paramedic Theory, I, II, III	EMS 101, 102, 103	25
Paramedic Laboratory Practice I, II, III	EMS 111, 112, 133	7
Paramedic Clinic Education I, II, III	EMS 121, 122, 123	13
Applied Anatomy & Physiology	BIOL 176	3
TOTAL		48

 SOPHOMORE YEAR

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
English Composition I, II	ENGL 101, 102	6
Intermediate Composition	ENGL 289	3
Quantitative Reasoning (general education elective)		3
Diversity & Culture (general education elective)		3
Social & Ethical Issues (general education elective)		3
General Education electives in fine arts, historical perspectives, humanities, literature, natural science, or social science*		24
TOTAL		42

                                                                                                                                               

* Select eight courses in five Breadth of Knowledge distribution areas.

  UC Advantages and Special Opportunities

The University of Cincinnati EMS program is the only paramedic program in the Tri-state area that has both state and national accreditation. The program lists many high quality graduates and has an excellent first-attempt pass rate for the state certifying examination. Classroom and laboratory experience are provided by credentialed faculty. Practical labs are provided to students with high-tech simulations. Student clinical and field competency are documented with national computerized technology. The program's association with the University Hospital emergency department assures the student individualized, expanded clinical opportunities provided by experienced clinical faculty and available only at the UC program.

  Special Programs

A number of different levels of EMS training are available at RWC. The First Emergency Responder and EMT-Basic Courses are open to all students.

• First Emergency Responder: This is a three-credit-hour course.
• EMT-Basic (EMT-B):  This is a two-course series of three credits each for six total credits.  You must successfully complete the Ohio certification examination to practice as an EMT-B.
• EMT-Paramedic (EMT-P): An EMT-P must take an additional 45 credit hours and successfully complete the Ohio paramedic certification examination.

  Admission Requirements

Admission into the paramedic certificate program (paramedic courses listed in the freshman year) is both limited and selective. Because of low faculty/student ratios and individualized clinical instruction, the program can accept a maximum of 36 students each fall and spring quarter.

 To be admitted to the paramedic program, students must:

• Be a minimum 18 years of age.
• Have a current driver's license.
• Have current health care provider CPR certification.
• Have current Ohio certification as an EMT-basic.
• Take the Health Occupations Aptitude Exam and obtain a score that meets admissions criteria.
• Meet the program's extensive physical requirements.

For admission into the associate degree program, students must hold a current license to practice as an EMT-paramedic or must be actively pursuing admission to the paramedic certificate program.

The paramedic courses at RWC run from August to June.  The paramedic courses at the off-site Northern Kentucky location run from March to February and are held at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

The EMS technology program provides the admission packet and pre-test information for the paramedic programs.  The contact number is (513) 936-1631. The admission packet is also available at www.ucclermont.edu/paramedic.

  Graduation Requirements

Students must obtain a grade of "C" or better in all EMS courses. 

  Application Deadlines

Students must complete all pre-test requirements by July 30 to be considered for fall quarter entrance and by February 15 for spring quarter. 

  Accreditation

The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

The EMT-paramedic education program is accredited by the Ohio Division of Emergency Medical Services (accreditation no. 330) and nationally by the Joint Review Committee of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions (CoAEMSP; accreditation no. 600080).