Emergency Medical Technician Basic Certificate

Emergency Medical Technology Program

Emergency Medical Technology (EMT) Policies

In addition to complying with all College policies, students enrolled in the Emergency Medical Technology Programs must have knowledge of and adhere to the following policies.

Health Policy

Because participation in clinical instruction is an integral part of the Emergency Medical Technology curricula, each student is required to comply with all the policies and procedures of the contracted clinical agencies and the EMT program. Therefore, each student is expected to uphold the contractual terms upon being admitted to the EMT program. All costs/expenses associated with meeting the health and general policy requirements of the program are the responsibility of the student. The following policies and procedures are required by all students upon acceptance to the Emergency Medical Technology program:

1. Submit a completed EMT Health Form (physical examination packet) current within one year which includes:
   1. evidence of having received the first two Hepatitis B vaccination series
   2. varicella immunity (immunization record or titer)
   3. proof of tetanus vaccination d. documentation of a TB skin test
2. Acquire a current CPR certification at the health care provider level (BLS/Infant/ Child) within eight weeks of admission.
3. Purchase liability and accident insurance through the College.
4. Complete a pre-clinical drug screen. Students must have a negative screen prior to being assigned to a clinical agency. The complete drug screen policy is located in the EMT Program Student Handbook.
5. Submit a background check prior to assignment to clinical/lab rotations. All students must sign a release form to give permission to perform a background check as required by federal law. The student must abide by the EMT program background check policy and clinical agency policy for which the student is assigned. Every effort will be made to provide students with the required clinical experiences to meet program objectives. Any student denied access by a clinical affiliate will be subject to dismissal from the program.

Universal Precaution

Students entering a health care field should be aware that they may be exposed to various contagious diseases during their clinical education and career. Precautions and protective procedures are discussed prior to the first clinical course. Additional information may be provided by each clinical facility. Students are required to make use of any protective devices available and to use universal precautions.

HIV Reporting

Students in all health care programs must comply with Public Law #102-141, Section 633 and “The Alabama Infected Health Care Worker Management Act.” The law requires that the HIV and HBV infected care worker report to the State Health Officers his/her condition within thirty (30) days of the time that he/she is aware of the infection. The infected health care worker must realize that any physician providing care to any infected health care worker must notify the State Health Care Officer of the infected status within seven days of the time he/she diagnoses or provides such care.

Essential Functions

The Alabama College System endorses the Americans with Disabilities Act. In accordance with College policy, when requested, reasonable accommodations may be provided for individuals with disabilities.

Physical, cognitive, psychomotor, affective and social abilities are required in unique combinations to provide safe and effective paramedic care. The applicant/student must be able to meet the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations throughout the program of learning. Admission, progression and graduation are contingent upon one’s ability to demonstrate the essential functions delineated for the EMT programs with or without reasonable accommodations. The EMT programs and/or affiliated clinical agencies may identify additional essential functions. The EMT programs reserve the right to amend the essential functions as deemed necessary.

To be admitted and to progress in the EMT programs a student must possess a functional level of ability to perform the duties required of an EMT student. Admission or progression may be denied if a student is unable to demonstrate the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations.

The essential functions delineated are those deemed necessary by the Department of Transportation and the EMT programs. No representation regarding industrial standards is implied. Similarly, any reasonable accommodations made will be determined and applied to the respective EMT program and may vary from reasonable accommodations made by healthcare employers.

The essential functions delineated below are necessary for EMT programs admission, progression, and graduation and for the provision of safe and effective prehospital care. The EMT essential function requirements include but are not limited to the following:

1. Physical demands of EMT
   1. Have the physical ability to walk, climb, crawl, bend, push, pull or lift and balance over less than ideal terrain
   2. Have good physical stamina and endurance which would not be adversely affected by having to lift, carry and balance at times, in excess of 125 lbs, 250 lbs with assistance
   3. See different color spectrums
   4. Have good hand eye coordination and manual dexterity to manipulate equipment, instrumentation and medications
2. Requirements for problem solving abilities, data collection, judgment and reasoning
   1. Be able to send and receive verbal messages as well as operate appropriately the communication equipment of current technology
   2. Be able to collect facts and to organize data accurately, to communicate clearly both orally and in writing in the English language (9th grade level or higher)
   3. Be able to differentiate between normal and abnormal findings in human physical conditions by using visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile observations
   4. Be able to make good judgment decisions and exhibit problem-solving skills under stressful situations
   5. Be attentive to detail and be aware of standards and rules that govern practice and implement therapies based upon mathematical calculations (9th grade level or higher)
   6. Possess sufficient emotional stability to be able to perform duties in life or death situations and in potentially dangerous social situations, including responding to calls in districts known to have high crime rates
   7. Be able to handle stress and work well as part of a team
   8. Be oriented to reality and not mentally impaired by mind-altering substances
   9. Not be addicted to drugs
   10. Be able to work shift of 24 hours in length
   11. Be able to tolerate being exposed to extremes in the environment including variable aspects of weather, hazardous fumes and noise
   12. Possess eyesight in a minimum of one eye correctable to 20/20 vision and be able to determine directions according to a map. Students who desire to drive an ambulance must possess approximately 180 degrees peripheral vision capacity, must possess a valid driver license, and must be able safely and competently operate a motor vehicle in accordance with state law.

Upon admission, an individual who discloses a disability can request reasonable accommodations. Individuals will be asked to provide documentation of the disability in order to assist with the provision of appropriate reasonable accommodations. The College will provide reasonable accommodations but is not required to substantially alter the requirements or nature of the program or provide accommodations that inflict an undue
burden on the College. To be admitted one must be able to perform all of the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations. If an individual’s health changes during the program of learning so that the essential functions cannot be met with or without reasonable accommodations, the student will be withdrawn from the EMT program. The EMT faculty reserves the right at any time to require an additional medical examination at the student’s expense in order to assist with the evaluation of the student’s ability to perform the essential functions.

Requests for reasonable accommodations should be directed to the Office of Disability Services, 205.391.3958 located on the second floor of the Martin Campus of Shelton State Community College.

Grading and Progression Policies

The Emergency Medical Technology Programs use the following grading scale for all courses:

Clinical/Laboratory Performance is graded as follows:

Satisfactory (S) / Unsatisfactory (U)

Clinical/Laboratory performance must be Satisfactory (S) to receive a passing grade in the course. Refer to the EMT Program Student Handbook and each course syllabus for additional information.

Clock-Hour to Credit-Hour Ratio

Theory – One hour of theory instruction under the supervision of an instructor plus an average of two hours of out of class study per week. 1:1

Laboratory – Two hours of experimental laboratory under the supervision of an instructor plus an average of one hour of out of class study per week. 2:1 Skills Laboratory/Clinical Practice – Three hours of skills laboratory or clinical practice under the supervision of an instructor. 3:1

Preceptorship – Three hours of clinical experience per week under the supervision of a health care professional who is currently licensed, has expertise in the selected clinical area, and serves as a facilitator of learning. 3:1

Progression Policy

A student must

1. Achieve a grade of 80 percent on each comprehensive final exam and a minimum letter grade of C or 75 percent in each course in order to pass and progress in the program.
2. Maintain ability to meet essential functions for EMT with or without reasonable accommodations.
3. Maintain current CPR at the health care provider level.
4. Complete all EMT courses in the prescribed sequence. Note: Only those students who have met all academic requirements of the Program will be eligible to sit for the National Registry examination.

Information about Licensure

Upon successful completion of the EMT program, the student is eligible to apply for the appropriate National Registry examination administered by the Alabama Department of Public Health. Applicants for licensure must be at least 18 years of age. All students who enter the Emergency Medical Technology program may be required to comply with specific licensure requirements set by the National Registry of EMTs and the Alabama Department of Public Health to become licensed as an EMT. Situations that may affect licensure include, but are not limited to:

1. Age (must be 18 years of age or older)
2. Prior conviction of any criminal act, including any DUI convictions
3. Present or past addiction to the use of intoxicating beverages or controlled substances
4. Not possessing 180 degrees peripheral vision capacity or a valid driver’s license (forlicensure as an EMT Driver)

Emergency Medical Technician Basic Certificate

The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-Basic) program provides the student with training in pre-hospital emergency care. Basic Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide basic life support for emergencies including, but not limited to, trauma, cardiac, and other medical emergencies. The EMT-Basic Program is approved by the Alabama Department of Public Health, RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104. Their telephone number is 334.206.5300.

EMT I (Basic) Curriculum

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Basic I)

Note: EMT-Basic information policies and curriculum are subject to change due to statewide standardization to reflect changes to the National Standards Curriculum.