Paramedic, A.A.S.

The Paramedic Program is a 60 Credit Hour Associate of Applied Science Degree program that is designed for students who are interested in pursuing careers in advanced emergency care. As of July 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education has implemented (Regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v)) which requires Blue Ridge CTC’s Paramedic program to provide a list of all states where our curriculum meets state educational requirements for certification. The National Registry Paramedic certification is a requirement for initial state licensure in all states except Montana, where it is optional, and New York and North Carolina, where alternate entry is available. Students should contact the state Department of EMS in the state they would like to be initially certified for more specific information.

Prior to registering for any advanced clinical (200 level) EMSP courses, students are required to:

• Complete the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course before or during the first semester.
• Obtain a valid EMT certification, which meets the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Standard
• Curriculum for Emergency Medical Technicians, no later than February 15th of the second semester.
• Pass the ALS Entrance Exam with a 70% or higher and submit the following documentation to the EMS Program Coordinator:
  1. An application to the advanced clinical (200 level) EMSP courses
  2. A photocopy of current CPR (AHA Healthcare Provider Course) certification
  3. Current EMT card from either: National Registry, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, or
  4. A completed immunization record prior to participation in any EMS Practicum course
  5. An annual PPD results (or chest X-ray, if appropriate)
  6. Successfully complete a urine drug screen
  7. Successfully complete a national criminal background check

Students in the Paramedic Program are subject to Blue Ridge Community and Technical College’s requirements for admissions, basic skills testing, and appropriate course placement, including mandated developmental courses, which are not counted toward completion of the program. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Catalog requirements regarding academic standards, student conduct, and graduation procedures also apply.

Blue Ridge CTC Paramedic Program Goal

The goal of the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Paramedic is to prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

EMS TECHNICAL STANDARDS

The following activities are examples of the kind of activities in which a student in the Paramedic Program will be required to perform in order to successfully complete the program.

1. Critical Thinking: Paramedic students should possess critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment. For example, the paramedic student must be able to prioritize the care of the critically injured or ill patient.
2. Interpersonal Skills: Paramedic students shall possess interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, groups, etc. from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds. For example, the student shall establish rapport with clients/patients and health care team members.
3. Communication Skills: Paramedic students shall possess communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written forms. For example: providing verbal encode to medical direction from the field and documentation of patient care.
4. Mobility: Paramedic students shall possess physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room, maneuver in small spaces, stand and walk for extensive periods of time and lift average-size adults with help. For example: transferring patients on to stretchers, loading and unloading stretchers into the ambulance and moving about the scene to search and discover patients.
5. Motor Skills: Paramedic students shall possess gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective care. For example: calibrate and use designated equipment, insertion of tubes and initiation of intravenous and intraosseous infusions and administration of medications.
6. Hearing: Paramedic students shall possess auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. For example: hear monitor alarms, emergency signals, and cries for help and auscultate breath and bowel sounds.
7. Visual: Paramedic students shall possess visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary for care. For example: observe patient/client responses to treatment, use of designated equipment and assessment of a patient.
8. Tactile: Paramedic students shall possess tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment. For example: perform palpation and percussion, assessment of skin vital signs.
9. Weight Bearing: Paramedic students shall possess the ability to lift and manipulate/move 45-50 pounds on a daily basis. For example position patients/clients, carry designated equipment.
10. Cognitive Abilities: Paramedic students shall possess an ability to be oriented to time, place and person and organize responsibilities, make decisions and function effectively in a critical situation. For example, a student shall assess client/patient complaints and implement appropriate plans for care.
11. Occupational Exposures: Paramedic students may be exposed to communicable diseases/ and or body fluids, toxic substances, medicinal preparations, and latex. Students shall use appropriate precautions at all times. For example, a student may be assigned a client/patient with a communicable disease and shall provide total care using universal precautions.
12. Driving Skills/Abilities: Paramedic students must have a valid Driver’s License in order to complete their coursework at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College.

Career Opportunities

Paramedics must be able to perform under pressure—in settings demanding excellent clinical, stress management, and communication skills. As a paramedic, you will provide pre-hospital care to patients, administering medication, interpreting EKGs, and operating equipment.

Accredited by both the State of West Virginia and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Program (click here for details), our graduates.

Paramedic Program Outcomes

CAAHEP Accredited Paramedic Programs and CoAEMSP Letter of Review (LoR) Programs track and report outcome measures annually to the Committee on Accreditation for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

The most current CoAEMSP Annual Report was for the calendar year 2020.

The most recent success rate for the National Registry of EMT Paramedic/State Cognitive exam was 100%.

The most recent positive placement rate for graduates was 81.8%. Positive placement is defined by the CoAEMSP as ‘Employed full or part-time in a related field and/or continuing his/her education and/or serving in the military’. Positive placement is measured at completion of the program.

The most recent retention rate was 61.1%.

Accreditation

The Blue Ridge Community and Technical College’s Paramedic Program is Accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of EMS Programs as part of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

It is through the assistance of the “Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions” (www.coaemsp.org) that the “Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs” (http://www.caahep.org/Find-An-Accredited-Program) grants our accreditation.