Curriculum

Curriculum Overview

The School of Emergency Medical Services follows the 2009 National EMS Education Standards for all EMS education programs. Additions and enhancements to the curriculum are made through recommendations from our Advisory Council, student, graduate and employer surveys, as well as the NREMT, and our own Scope of Practice Analysis. This helps assure that we provide our students with the proper breadth and depth of subject matter that our graduates will be expected to possess upon graduation. 

EMT
Curriculum

The Emergency Medical Technician program consists of 250 hours of classroom, lab instruction, emergency room clinical experience and an EMS Field rotation. Students are expected to complete the FEMA IS 100 and IS 700 on their own prior to the completion of the course. American Heart Association Basic Life Support, PA Department of Health Pit Crew CPR in-service, and Hazardous Material Awareness are provided within our EMT Curriculum. Students over the age of 18 are offered the opportunity to take VFIS Emergency Vehicle Driver Training Course either during or shortly after the course. This makes those graduates of the EMT program hire ready.

Didactic Education
EMT didactic education, including classroom and labs, is held during the winter/spring and Fall/Winter class on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6 pm to 10 pm and an occasional Saturday or in the accelerated Summer Program Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 0800-1700hrs. Much of the program is a “flipped style” program. This means that serval modules or chapters are assigned for homework and the student will come into the classroom and will apply what they have learned through discussions and simulation exercises. This helps to ensure knowledge transfer to be prepared for the clinical and field experiences.

Clinical Training
Clinical training occurs within the Emergency Department and with the Respiratory Department at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center and other area hospitals we have contracts with. Students are required a minimum number of hours and patient contacts to be eligible for course completion.

Field Rotation
EMT students’ progress from an observer to a team member during the field rotation. Each student partners with an ambulance service where a preceptor mentors and evaluates the student in the areas relating to patient treatment and team member skills. 

Course Content

These topics are covered over 50 class sessions during the winter/spring and Fall/Winter session and 25 class sessions during the summer program.

Preparatory – 38hrs
Patient Assessment – 22hrs
Airway and Breathing – 18hrs
Cardiovascular – 28hrs
Medical – 38hrs
Trauma – 24hrs
Special Populations – 16hrs
EMS Operations – 16hrs

These following clinical topics are covered outside of the regular class sessions during the winter/spring, fall/winter, and the summer program.

Clinical Rotation – 20hrs
Field Rotation – 32hrs

These following options topics are offered outside of the regular class sessions and are not required for course completion.

EMT Readiness (optional EVOC and ACLS for EMT) – 24hrs

Paramedic

Curriculum

Conemaugh School of Emergency Medical Services Paramedic students complete 1,035 hours of classroom and interactive training including didactic and laboratory instruction, clinical experience, and a field internship. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Pediatric Care (EPC), and Hazardous Material Awareness programs are included within our Paramedic Curriculum.

Classes begin in late August and conclude in August of the following year. Upon successful completion of the program, Conemaugh School of Emergency Medical Services graduates are eligible to take the state-certifying National Registry Paramedic Exam (NREMT) practical at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center. 

Didactic Training

Didactic training, including lecture and labs, is held Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. At least three class sessions are conducted on weekends. Class sessions are available via live webinar in parts of Semester I and Semester II.

Clinical Training

Clinical training occurs within several departments of Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center including emergency department, trauma, critical care, operating room, OB/Gyn, pediatric, communications, IV therapy, respiratory, and hospice. Each area of study requires a number of hours and objectives to be complete within a specified time. We do have several contracts in place with other local facilities.

Field Internship

Throughout the Conemaugh School of Emergency Medical Services program, students’ progress from a team member to a team leader during the field internship. Each student is placed with a specific ambulance service where an instructor preceptor mentors and evaluates the student in the areas relating to patient treatment and team leadership skills.

Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health Professions - Paramedic

Upon successful completion of the Paramedic Program, Conemaugh School of Emergency Medical Services provides students the opportunity to obtain an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Health Professions-Paramedic from Pennsylvania Highlands Community College. 

Paramedic Courses
Credits listed here do not represent the total amount transferred by select colleges and universities.

Semester 1

Last week of August to second week of December (16 weeks)

Semester 2

Third week of December to second week of April (16 weeks)

Semester 3

Third week of April to second week of June (8 weeks)

Semester 4

Third week of June to third week of August (10 weeks)

For information on Tuition & Fees, please click here.