Mission Statement
To prepare students to become competent, professionally prepared entry-level emergency medical technicians who meet state and national expectations within the profession.
|
Work Environment
EMTs work both indoors and out, in all types of weather. They are required to do considerable kneeling, bending, and heavy lifting. These workers are at a higher risk for contracting illnesses or experiencing injuries on the job than workers in other occupations. They risk noise-induced hearing loss from sirens and back injuries from lifting patients. In addition, EMTs may be exposed to communicable diseases, such as Hepatitis-B and AIDS, as well as to violence from mentally unstable or combative patients. The work is not only physically strenuous but can be stressful, sometimes involving life-or-death situations and suffering patients. Nonetheless, many people find the work exciting and challenging and enjoy the opportunity to help others. These workers experienced a larger than average number of work-related injuries or illnesses.
Many EMTs are required to work more than 40 hours a week. Because emergency services function 24 hours a day, EMTs and paramedics may have irregular working hours.
|
Nature of the Work
People's lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care of emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Incidents as varied as automobile accidents, heart attacks, slips and falls, childbirth, and gunshot wounds require immediate medical attention. EMTs provide this vital service as they care for and transport the sick or injured to a medical facility.
In an emergency, a 911 operator typically dispatches EMTs to the scene, where they often work with police and fire fighters. Once they arrive, EMTs assess the nature of the patient's condition, while trying to determine whether the patient has any pre-existing medical conditions. Following protocols and guidelines, they provide emergency care and transport the patient to a medical facility. EMTs operate in emergency medical services systems where a physician provides medical direction and oversight.
EMTs use special equipment, such as backboards, to immobilize patients before placing them on stretchers and securing them in the ambulance for transport to a medical facility. These workers generally work in teams. During the transport of a patient, one drives, while the other monitors the patient's vital signs and gives additional care, as needed. At the medical facility, EMTs help transfer patients to the emergency department, report their observations and actions to emergency department staff, and may provide additional emergency treatment. After each run, EMTs document the trip, replace used supplies, and check equipment. If a transported patient has a contagious disease, EMTs decontaminate the interior of the ambulance and report cases to the proper authorities. Beyond these general duties, the specific responsibilities of EMTs depend on their level of qualification and training. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certifies emergency medical service providers at four levels: EMR-Emergency Medical Responder, EMT-Emergency Medical Technician, AEMT-Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, and Paramedic.
The EMT represents the first response of the emergency medical system. An EMT trained at this level is prepared to care for patients at the scene of an accident and while transporting patients by ambulance to the hospital under the direction of more highly trained medical personnel. The EMT has the emergency skills to assess a patient's condition and manage respiratory, cardiac, and trauma emergencies.
The AEMT has more advanced training. However, the specific tasks that those certified at this level are allowed to perform varies greatly from state to state.
|
Employment
EMTs and paramedics held about 210,700 jobs nationally in 2008. Most career EMTs work in metropolitan areas. Volunteer EMTs are more common in small cities, towns, and rural areas. These individuals volunteer for fire departments, emergency medical services, or hospitals and may respond to only a few calls per month. Employment of emergency medical technicians and paramedics is expected to grow 9 percent between 2008 and 2018.
|
Earnings
Earnings of EMTs and paramedics depend on the employment setting and geographic location of their jobs, as well as their training and experience. Median hourly wages nationally of EMTs and paramedics were $14.10 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $11.13 and $18.28. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $9.08, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $23.77. Median hourly wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of EMTs and paramedics in May 2008 were $12.99 in other ambulatory healthcare services and $15.45 in local government.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition (http://www.bls.gov/oco/)
|
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the technical certificate in Emergency Medical Technician will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Pass the National Registry of EMT's EMT practical and written examinations
- Perform an EMT-level patient assessment
- Form a general patient impression
- Formulate a patient care plan within their scope of practice
- Implement patient care
- Deliver the patient to the appropriate medical facility or higher level of care while delivering EMT-level care
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
Graduates of the technical certificate in Advanced Emergency Medical Technician will
- Pass the National Registry of EMT's AEMT practical and written examinations
- Perform a comprehensive AEMT-level patient assessment
- Form a general patient impression
- Formulate a patient care plan within their scope of practice
- Implement advanced patient care
- Deliver the patient to the appropriate medical facility or higher level of care while delivering AEMT-level care
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
|
Essential Functions
The following technical standards and essential functions outline reasonable expectations of a student in the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program for the performance of common EMT functions. The EMT student must be able to apply the knowledge and skills necessary to function in a variety of classroom, lab, and/or clinical situations while providing the essential competencies of an EMT. These requirements apply for the purpose of admission and continuation in the program.
A general summary of the technical standards is listed below; however, prospective students are encouraged to review Appendix A of the National Standard Curriculum for a complete position analysis as performed on behalf of the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Safety Administration.
Essential Function: Observation
The ability to participate actively in all demonstrations, laboratory exercises, and clinical experiences in the professional program component and to assess and comprehend the condition of all patients assigned to him/her for examination, diagnosis, and treatment; such observation and information usually requires functional use of visual, auditory, and somatic sensations
Examples
- Observe skill demonstrations
- Read small medication labels
- Assess patients, including color changes, distinguishing location and types of injuries, lung sounds, odors
- Observe details about patient environment, including odors, colors, sounds
- Read small gauges on oxygen regulators and blood pressure cuffs
- Listen to and distinguish patient lung sounds, heart tones, and blood pressures using a stethoscope in noisy environments
Essential Function: Communication
The ability to communicate effectively in English using verbal, non-verbal, and written formats with faculty, other students, patients, families, and other members of the healthcare team
Examples
- Read patient charts, medication labels, clinical documentation, physician orders, legal forms, e-mail
- Produce written communication with healthcare team, including physicians, dispatchers, supervisors, patients (may be done via charts, pre-hospital care forms, and/or narratives)
- Communicate verbally with healthcare team members, including physicians, dispatchers, supervisors, patients (may be done in person, via telephone, and/or via two-way radio)
Essential Function: Motor
Sufficient motor ability and dexterity to execute the movement and skills required for safe and effective care and emergency treatment
Examples
- Lift and move patients with and without assistance
- Perform emergency skills such as bandaging, splinting, patient movement, application of oxygen, administration of medications (pill, sprays, auto-injector)
- Assess patients on and extricate patients from irregular surfaces, stairs, trails, roadways, ditches, vehicles, dwellings, businesses, waterways, etc.
Essential Function: Intellectual
The ability to collect, interpret, and integrate information and make decisions
Examples
- Combine findings from patient and scene assessment with knowledge of anatomy and physiology to develop or follow treatment plans
- Solve problems to meet challenges of emergency scenes
- Recognize changing patient conditions and adapt care to address changing conditions
- Synthesizing patient treatment plans in the absence of concrete findings or in the presence of contradictory findings
Essential Function: Behavioral and Social Attributes
Possess the emotional health and stability required for full utilization of the student's intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all academic and patient care responsibilities, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with clients and other members of the healthcare team; possess the ability to tolerate taxing workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical settings with patients; possess compassion, integrity, concern for others, and motivation; possess the ability to demonstrate professional behaviors and a strong work ethic
Examples
- Interact with people (such as patients and their families, bystanders, healthcare team members, and members of the general public) from diverse socioeconomic, ethnic, educational, religious, moral, and cultural backgrounds in a professional and non-judgmental manner
- Respond to and manage emergency scenes under stressful and time-pressured circumstances
- Respond to and manage non-emergency situations during entire shift (up to 48 hours of continuous duty) while maintaining a compassionate, caring, and professional demeanor
- Interact with people with learning, developmental, psychological, and/or behavioral disorders while maintaining a compassionate, caring, and professional demeanor
|
Program Expenses
The Higher Education Act requires all colleges and universities to notify students and prospective students of all program costs for which they will be responsible. Students will be responsible for the following expenses each semester (unless otherwise noted):
- Tuition ($75 per credit hour)
- Registration fee ($39)
- Student activity fees ($30)
- HOBET-V test ($60)
- Accident insurance fee ($6)
- Background check (Approximately $25 per required check)
- Clinical uniform ($75)
- Drug test ($25 per required testing)
- Equipment, including penlight, stethoscope, etc. ($25)
- Immunizations
- Hepatitis B ($275)
- Tuberculosis skin test ($40 for two tests)
- Licensure examinations
- NREMT EMT Licensure Exam Fee ($52)
(AEMT students must take the EMT written licensure exam before taking the AEMT practical and written examinations.)
- NREMT AEMT Practical Examination Fee ($100 to $125 depending on modules taken)
- NREMT Written Examination Fee (Pearson Vue) ($100)
- State of Georgia AEMT Licensure Fee ($75)
- Malpractice insurance: $46.50 per year
- Physical examination (Approximately $150)
- State licensing fee (Georgia OEMS) ($50)
- Supply fee (Varies - see course descriptions for exact amount)
- Test prep interactive software (Approximately $150)
- Textbooks (Approximately $260 for entire program)
These expenses are based on costs in effect at the time this catalog was published. Prices are subject to change.
|
Admission Requirements
The Emergency Medical Technician program uses a competitive admission process to select students. Program faculty and the Admissions Office staff designed the process to ensure maximum opportunity for student success in the program. Prospective students may gain admission to the college initially as Healthcare Assistant program students/applicants to Emergency Medical Technician in order to complete any learning support classes.
Applicants who are on academic probation or are academically dismissed from the college as of the application deadline will not be considered for admission. The Admissions Office staff admits students during Fall Semester. Applicants must submit all required documentation to the Admissions Office by June 15.
Applicants not selected for the program may reapply during subsequent admission intake periods. The college does not maintain a waiting list of people seeking admission to the program. Applicants must submit the following information to the Admissions Office by the application deadline for the semester they are seeking admission to the program:
- Completed and signed application for admission and a $20 nonrefundable application fee
- Official birth certificates, passports, driver's licenses, or state-issued photo identification cards to document that they are at least 18 years of age
- Official high school or GED transcripts and/or official college transcripts from all colleges attended in the past
- Completed and signed Intent form (blank forms are available in the Admissions Office or on the college web site at www.athenstech.edu/oldcatalog/programsofstudy.cfm - select Selective Admissions Forms)
- Official COMPASS placement test scores (see COMPASS and ASSET Placement Tests)
- Take HOBET-V test; used to rank students for selective admission
All applicants must submit official test scores from a standardized health program placement examination, which will be used as part of the competitive selection process. Contact the Admissions Office at admissions@athenstech.edu for information on the specific placement examination. Placement test scores must be less than five years old at the time of the application deadline. When the number of applicants exceeds the number of seats available in the program, the Admissions selection committee ranks and admits applicants according to their official placement test scores.
Applicants must attend a mandatory program orientation session. Failure to attend this session or failure to make alternate arrangements to obtain the necessary information will result in the forfeiture of admission to the program. Prior to the beginning of the program, applicants must have the following current official documents on file with program faculty:
- Documentation of a recent medical examination
- A signed document acknowledging that the commission of a felony before or during their enrollment in this program may prevent graduates from taking the licensure exam to become emergency medical technicians and that they may be required to complete drug testing and/or background checks at their own expense prior to participating in internships, practicums, or clinical activities at certain host sites for these activities (see Drug Testing/Background Checks) (blank documents are available from the program chair or the Admissions Office and online at www.athenstech.edu/oldcatalog/programsofstudy.cfm - select Selective Admissions Forms)
- Completed immunization form
- Completed background check
- Completed academic honesty form
- Verification of completion of the online version of New Student Orientation
|
Readmission Policy
If students withdraw from the program for any reason, they must follow the steps detailed under Life Sciences Programs Readmission. In addition, students seeking readmission will abide by all policies and procedures in place at the time of their request for readmission.
|
Residency Policy
Only in the event that the program slots cannot be filled with Georgia residents who meet the minimum admissions criteria can out-of-state students be admitted to the Emergency Medical Technician program.
|
|