Menu

Erie Community College

Emergency Medical Technology/Paramedic (Degree Program)

Emergency Medical Technology/Paramedic (Degree Program)

The Emergency Medical Technology: Paramedic Program is designed for both the career and volunteer provider. This degree will require students to complete the SUNY general education courses which are available at all Erie Community College campuses.

This degree will ensure the student completes core development courses in math, English, science, humanities, social science, EMT and other fields to be better rounded students and lifelong learners. The successful completion of the program will enable the student to receive an Associate of Applied Science Degree.

The EMT: Paramedic Program is designed to meet the national standard for Emergency Medical Technology-Paramedic. Paramedics staff pre-hospital advanced life support units, as well as emergency industrial health and safety units. Also, many paramedics assume other roles in clinical settings.

This program's primary objective is to prepare students to become certified as paramedics and effective components in the delivery of pre-hospital advanced life support.

Full-time (day and evening programs) - the two semester 53-week EMT: Paramedic Program begins in August and concludes the following August.  During the first 32 weeks, there is a mixture of lecture and laboratory work in the areas of pathophysiology, advanced airway management, patient assessment, pharmacology, respiratory and cardiology, emergency operations and medical emergencies involving pediatrics and geriatrics. In addition to class work, the student will also perform clinical rotations at the SUNY University at Buffalo Cadaver Lab, Medical Emergency Response Center (MERS) dispatch center, emergency departments,operating room, Gates Vascular Institute (GVI) stroke unit and gross anatomy lab at Daemen College.

The last 20 weeks in the classroom continues to include a mixture of on-campus lecture and labs covering trauma, general medical emergencies involving the various organ systems and concluding with intense Advanced Life Support patient simulation labs. Complementing the classroom work are clinical rotations in the GVI Cardiac Cath-EP and stress labs, Women's & Children's Hospital of Buffalo obstetrics & emergency departments, Kaleida Highpointe Pediatric Pavilion, adult emergency departments, geriatrics and psychiatry.

The second semester will also allow students to perform their newly acquired skills in the Field Internship course. In conjunction with the patient simulation labs, students will function in the role of a paramedic under the supervision of a Certified Paramedic Preceptor on 911 calls for various ambulance services throughout the region. The program will conclude with student eligibility for the NYSDOH paramedic certification examination.

Admissions Requirements

Basic EMT

  • Individuals must be 18 years old to receive New York State Basic EMT certification.
  • Basic EMT course is offered at North and South campuses both fall and spring semesters, along with other program electives.
  • Satisfactory completion of the Basic EMT certification and field experience does not guarantee admission into the paramedic degree or certificate program.
  • In accordance with the requirements of 10 NYCRR Part 800, students must not have been convicted of any misdemeanors of felonies. Students with convictions will be individually reviewed by the New York State Department of Health and may not be automatically barred from certification. The New York State Department of Health will determine if the conviction is applicable under the provisions of Part 800.

Paramedic

  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to be an active member of a volunteer, commercial or municipal EMS agency and attain as much EMT patient care field experience (in a non-driving role) as possible prior to entering the program. EMT faculty believes paramedic program success is heavily influenced by the amount of patient care experience the applicant brings with them into the program.
  • Students must contact the Emergency Medical Technology Department at South Campus for an interview and preliminary advisement prior to registration.
  • Graduation applications are required upon successful completion of the program.

Students must meet all of the following prerequisites:

  • maintain a current New York State EMT certification beyond the end date of the paramedic program;
  • hold a high school diploma or equivalent;
  • for a student who previously attended ECC, he or she must be in good academic standing; and
  • have a physical examination with the appropriate immunizations signed by a physician verifying physical fitness to provide advanced life support.

Required Math Competencies

You must successfully complete the ECC pretest for math (AARLV2 or higher). If you do not score at the AARLV2 level or higher on the placement test you may:

  • enroll in and successfully complete the ECC non-credit math course MT 003 prior to the start of the EMT: Paramedic Program; or
  • study on your own material similar to the content of the pretest and retake the pretest to score at the AARLV2 level.

The math pretest may be waived if you meet one of the following:

  • own a score of 500 points or higher on the math section;
  • successfully completed a college level math course; or
  • passed the New York State Math Regents examination with a score of 85 percent (B) or higher within the last three years.

Required English Competencies

You must successfully complete the ECC pretest for English (AWRLV3 & ARELV3 or higher). If you do not score at the AWRLV3 & ARELV3 level or higher, you may:

  • enroll in and successfully complete the English non-credit courses as indicated by pre-testing, prior to the start of the Paramedic program; or
  • retake the pretest.

The English placement test may be waived if you meet one of the following:

  • own a score of 500 points or greater on the English section of the SAT;
  • successfully completed a college level English course; or
  • passed the New York State English Regents exam with a score of 85 percent (B) or higher within the last 3 years.

Program Competencies

Basic EMT - Program competencies include the following:

  • perform proper Body Substance Isolation;
  • properly conduct a patient history, physical examination and vital signs of a medical and trauma patient;
  • properly manage medical and trauma patients according to national standard protocols;
  • demonstrate manual airway maneuvers;
  • administer oxygen therapy utilizing the nasal cannula and non-rebreather mask;
  • apply the proper airway management adjuncts to include suctioning oral and nasal airways;
  • perform positive pressure ventilation using Bag Valve Mask (BVM) ventilation;
  • demonstrate CPR and choking maneuvers and the proper use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and attain American Heart Association CPR credential at healthcare provider level;
  • assist with self-administration of nitroglycerin, and aspirin;
  • perform with medical direction the administration of nebulized albuterol;
  • properly manage central nervous system injuries to include: spinal immobilization techniques utilizing cervical collars, KED, short and long spine boards and helmet removal techniques;
  • properly manage orthopedic emergencies utilizing padded board splints, traction splints, air and vacuum splint and cravats;
  • properly manage soft tissue injuries and treatment of shock, demonstrating bleeding control and bandaging techniques and the application of MAST pants;
  • demonstrate techniques for assisting with normal and abnormal obstetrical emergencies;
  • demonstrate techniques for managing psychiatric emergencies and the application of patient restraints;
  • demonstrate proper lifting and moving techniques utilizing a stretcher, stair chair and manual lifts;
  • demonstrate proper radio communications techniques;
  • provide accurate written documentation in a Patient Care Report (PCR); and
  • explain the role of medical direction and performing as a team member.

Advanced EMT - Must perform all the competencies of a Basic EMT and all the following:

  • perform peripheral vascular access demonstrating proper utilization of an angiocatheter, vacutainer, leuer adapter, saline trap, Intraosseous needle and fluid administration, IM, SQ, IN and IV bolus medication administration;
  • perform advanced airway maneuvers to include but not limited to: endotracheal intubation, EOA/EGTA, King airway, Combitube, bougee and chest decompression;
  • demonstrate proper application of the Magill forceps during airway management;
  • demonstrate patient assessment skills adapted for the geriatric and special needs patients; and
  • attain Pediatric Life Support and International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) credential.

EMT Paramedic - Must perform all the competencies of a Basic and Advanced EMT and all the following:

  • perform the expanded scope patient assessment to include the utilization of the otoscope and opthalmoscope;
  • perform advanced airway techniques to include but not limited to: Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA), Quicktrac, needle cricothyrotomy and jet ventilation, CPAP/BiPaP, Waveform capnography;
  • perform proper electrocardiogram (EKG) monitoring utilizing both the three lead and twelve lead techniques;
  • interpret a single lead and twelve lead EKG and initiate proper treatment protocols;
  • perform manual defibrillation, synchronized cardioversion, and external cardiac pacing;
  • attain American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) credential;
  • attain American Heart Association Pediatric Life Support (PALS) credential;
  • calculate drug dosages utilizing the metric system;
  • demonstrate proper medication administration techniques to include: IM, SQ, P.O., P.R., I.V. bolus and infusion, ET, SL, buccal, transdermal; and
  • contact the EMT Department for the medication list under the paramedic scope of practice.

Accreditations

The paramedic program of Erie Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs ( www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 US Highway 19 N., Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
www.caahep.org

To contact CoAEMSP:
8301 Lakeview Parkway Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
214-703-8445
FAX 214-703-8992
www.coaemsp.org

Certifications/Licensure

Credentials

  • American Heart Association Basic CPR credential
  • New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, Basic Emergency Medical Technician
  • American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider credential
  • American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support credential
  • American Academy of Emergency Physicians-International Trauma Life Support-Advanced Provider credential
  • NYS Health Department Certification-EMT Paramedic
  • State University of New York EMT Paramedic A.A.S. Degree

Department Notes

ECC Paramedic Outcomes

2017 2016 2015
NYS Written Pass % 86% 100% 94%
NYS Practical Pass % 100% 100% 100%
Student Retention Rate 81% 82% 82%
Employer Placement % 100% 100% 100%

Curriculum

Total Degree Credits: 68.5

First Year, Fall Semester
EG 113 - EMT Basic Credit Hours: 8
EN 110 - College Composition Credit Hours: 3
MT 112 - Survey of Mathematics Credit Hours: 3
PY 111 - Biomedical Ethics Credit Hours: 3

First Year, Spring Semester
BI 147 - Survey Anatomy and Physiology Credit Hours: 3
EN 111 - Composition and Interpretation of Literature Credit Hours: 3 
PS 100 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3
HI 106 - World Civilization I Credit Hours: 3

Second Year, Fall Semester
EG 099 - Paramedic Introduction, Pathophysiology and Life Span Development Credit Hours: 3
EG 101 - Advanced Airway Management Lab Credit Hours: 1
EG 103 - Patient Assessment Credit Hours: 2
EG 104 - Patient Assessment Lab Credit Hours: 1
EG 105 - Pharmacology Credit Hours: 2
EG 106 - Pharmacology Lab Credit Hours: 1
EG 107 - Respiratory and Cardiology Credit Hours: 2
EG 108 - Respiratory and Cardiology Lab Credit Hours: 1
EG 109 - Paramedic Clinical I Credit Hours: 1
EG 110 - Paramedic Clinical II Credit Hours: 1
EG 200 - EMS Operations Credit Hours: 3
EG 204 - Medical Emergencies II Credit Hours: 2
EG 205 - Medical Emergencies II Lab Credit Hours: 1

Second Year, Spring Semester
EG 201 - Trauma Credit Hours: 2
EG 202 - Trauma Lab Credit Hours: 1
EG 203 - Medical Emergencies I Credit Hours: 4
EG 206 - Paramedic Clinical III Credit Hours: 2
EG 207 - Paramedic Hospital Clinical IV Credit Hours: 2.5
EG 208 - EMT Paramedic Ambulance Field Internship Credit Hours: 7

Available At:

South Campus

Pre-Admission Recommendations:

Basic EMT offered at North and South Campuses
Checklist and Application Packet

Hegis Code:

5299

Curriculum Code:

1293.EMP

Division:

Health Sciences
Emergency Medical Technology AAS

Program Video

Need Help?

Joseph Gonter
South Campus
Room 3130D
4041 Southwestern Blvd.
Orchard Park, NY 14127
P: (716) 851-1781