Emergency Medical Technician, Certificate

Certificate

The mission of the MCCC Emergency Medical Technician Program is to prepare students to provide competent care for patients in emergency situations through a comprehensive program of four courses that include learning in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical environments. The program emphasizes effective communication, critical thinking, safety, and ethical and legal practices, preparing graduates with the knowledge and skills to provide care in traumatic and medical emergencies.

Emergency Medical Technicians provide out-of-hospital emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical services (EMS) system. EMTs have the basic knowledge and skills to stabilize and safely transport patients, ranging from non-emergency and routine medical transports to life-threatening emergencies. Emergency Medical Technicians are part of a comprehensive EMS response system under medical oversight. Emergency Medical Technicians perform interventions with the basic equipment typically found on an ambulance. Emergency Medical Technicians are a critical link between the scene of an emergency and the health care system.
[From the: National EMS Scope of Practice Model]

Job prospects

The EMT certificate program consists of four classes. EMS 151 Basic EMT I is a three-credit hour course that provides the foundation for a career in prehospital emergency medicine. EMS 152 Basic EMT II is a four-credit hour course that provides the first set of skills required to be an EMT-B, including airway management with oxygen therapy and trauma and medical assessment. EMS 153 Basic EMT III is a four-credit hour course that presents medical scenarios commonly encountered in the pre-hospital setting and shows students how to assess and treat illnesses related to respiratory problems, cardiac emergencies, and diabetes, along with other common emergency calls. In this course, students will begin clinical rotations in the hospital and on an ambulance, completing those rotations in EMS 154 Basic EMT IV, a course that will expose them to injuries associated with traumatic events. After they complete lecture and laboratory tasks in all four courses and the sixty-hour clinical rotations, students will be eligible to take the national examination to become certified in Emergency Medicine and eligible for licensing in many states, including Michigan and Ohio.

Requirements for the clinical externship include:

1. Passing EMS 151  and EMS 152  with a grade of “B” or better.
2. EMS 151 , EMS 152 , EMS 153 , and EMS 154  must be taken in sequence or as co-requisites, depending on course offerings. Deviations from this sequence may only be made with the appropriate approval of the instructor and division dean offering the course.
3. Immunizations and health examinations are required at the student’s expense to ensure that the student can meet the technical standards of the program and the requirements of partner clinical agencies.
4. An active American Heart Association cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification for professional rescuers of infants, children, and adults will be required before clinical rotations begin. More information will be provided to students at the beginning of the program.
5. Students admitted to the program must consent to background/security checks including a criminal background check and drug screening. The student may be responsible for any cost associated with the background/security/drug screening checks. Certain criminal convictions may render a student ineligible to train at clinical sites which are necessary in order to successfully complete the program. The college will review the results and determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether to deny admission to any individual based on the results of the background check, criminal background check, and drug screening. Despite the passage of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act in November 2018, the possession of marijuana remains prohibited under United States Federal Law and MCCC policy (6.21). The College and EMS Program prohibits employees, students, and members of the public from possessing or using marijuana (legal or medicinal) on College property or during any College activity. Health occupation students must consent to random drug screening with negative results for marijuana or any illicit substance. Failure to provide a negative drug screen will prevent participation in the program and/or result in program dismissal.
6. EMS students are required to have professional liability and personal health insurance. The professional liability insurance is provided by the college. Personal health insurance must be obtained by the student and maintained throughout all courses in the program. Proof of insurance will be required prior to participating in any lab or clinical activity.
7. Students must complete the necessary prerequisites before the beginning of a clinical rotation. Each student must pass the lab and theory portions of EMS 151  and EMS 152  with a “B” average (80 percent) or better to qualify for EMS 153  and EMS 154  enrollment. Students must complete both courses with a “B” average or better to be awarded the EMT certificate.
8. Besides college rules, EMS students must adhere to policies and procedures outlined in the EMS Program Clinical Handbook provided in EMS 151 . Students must be available to complete 60 hours of clinical time during EMS 153  and EMS 154  to complete the clinical requirement.

Note: Any expense accrued for the above requirements is the responsibility of the student.

TECHNICAL STANDARDS

The purpose of the technical standards is to inform students choosing to enter into and EMS program of the basic minimal technical standard requirements that must be met to complete all coursework, objectives, and student outcomes. The listed standards encompass what is minimally required to perform necessary tasks. This list is not exhaustive and can be modified as the college deems necessary. Students enrolled in an EMS program at MCCC must provide safe and effective care. These technical standards apply to any student enrolling in any of the EMS programs. The student must demonstrate sufficient cognitive, professional, motor (physical), sensory, and other abilities, with or without accommodation, to meet program technical standards. Technical standard requirements are listed below.

• Critical Thinking and Cognitive Competencies: Sufficient critical thinking and cognitive abilities in classroom and clinical settings.
• Professionalism: Interpersonal skills sufficient for professional interaction with diverse individuals, families, and groups.
• Communication: Communication sufficient for professional interactions.
• Mobility: work indoors and outdoors in all types of weather. Their work is physically strenuous, and they spend much time standing or moving. Their work also may be stressful, especially when it involves life-or-death situations.
• Motor Skills: Gross and fine motor abilities that are sufficiently effective and safe for providing allied health care.
• Sensory: Auditory and visual ability sufficient for observing, monitoring, and assessing health needs.
• Observation: Ability to sufficiently make observations in various environments consistent with program competencies.
• Tactile sense: Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment.

A prospective student or participant in the program with an approved documented disability can request reasonable accommodations to meet these standards. The college will provide appropriate accommodations, but it is not required to fundamentally alter the requirements or nature of the program or lower its academic standards. Requests for accommodations should be directed to a Disability Services counselor in the Student Success Center. To make an appointment, please call 734.384.4167.