Section IV

Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic

3.12.1 System Guidelines

Enrollment in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program may be limited because of available clinical sites, faculty and financial resources at the college.

Technical Standards

The paramedic is involved in the direct care of individuals in emergency situations, which necessitate the application of verified knowledge and the competent performance of out-of- hospital emergency skill sets. All students should possess sufficient:

1. critical thinking and problem solving skills to apply the principles of theory to making independent judgments regarding the care and management of patients;
2. degree of numerical skill to compute drug dosages, equipment usage and patient size;
3. spatial aptitude as is required to visualize anatomic positions and the relationship between the point of application of forces and the area affected and to place treatment devices or administer manual treatment in relationship to the affected body part;
4. visual acuity and color discrimination such as is needed in the accurate preparation and administration of medications; for the observation necessary for patient assessment and management; and to make comparisons and discriminations and see slight differences in shapes and shading of figures and widths and lengths of lines as in EKG interpretation;
5. auditory perception to receive verbal communication from patients and members of the health team and to assess health needs of people through the use of monitoring devices such as cardiac monitor, stethoscopes, intravenous infusion pumps, fire alarms, etc.;
6. gross and fine motor coordination to respond promptly and accurately and to implement the skills, including the manipulation of equipment and the patient, that is required in meeting health needs related to paramedicine;
7. body strength and agility to move in a rapid manner; lift and carry patients and/or equipment weighing a minimum of 100 pounds – more with a partner; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and reach as necessary to deliver emergency patient care;
8. flexibility to work in extreme conditions such as inclement weather, high noise levels, proximity to moving mechanical parts, all environmental and atmospheric conditions, heights, small spaces, crowds, with violators of the law; and
9. communication skills (speech, reading, writing) to interact appropriately and therapeutically with all individuals and to communicate their needs promptly and effectively, as may be necessary in the patient’s interest.

In addition to other qualifications, the college will, in compliance with KCTCS regulations, and in the manner and to the extent permitted by law, endeavor to provide opportunities to all students in order to promote diversity among the student population in the Emergency Medical Services program.

Selection of students for the Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Program will be made by the President of the College or the President’s designee, after considering the recommendations of an EMS/ Paramedic Admissions Committee, which is to be appointed for this purpose. Membership on this committee shall be from the college as follows:

• EMS – Paramedic Program Coordinator;
• EMS – Paramedic Program Faculty Member (optional); and
• Three faculty members at-large selected from the following: Counselor, General Education Faculty, Allied Health Faculty, Advisory Board Member, State Fire & Rescue Training Area Coordinator or their designee.

To be considered for admission to the EMS – Paramedic Program, each applicant must submit the following documents for the fall session by the program deadline established at each college:

1. enrollment in the KCTCS college;
2. high school transcript indicating that the applicant has or will have completed a high school course of study or a passing GED official score report;
3. current unrestricted state EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) certification or National Registry validation indicating successful completion of the National Registry process;
4. evidence of meeting the current guidelines as set forth by the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services;
5. evidence of completion (or plan to complete) of all academic prerequisite courses;
6. letter of intent to pursue enrollment in the EMS – Paramedic Program; and
7. evidence of attendance at a mandatory EMS – Paramedic Program preadmission conference with the program coordinator or designee.

Exceptions to the college’s deadline submission date can be granted by the President of the college after consultation with the program coordinator. Application completion is not a guarantee of admission to the program.

Preference

Preference may be given to:

1. Applicants who are employed as an EMT at a licensed advanced life support ambulance service or emergency department;
2. Applicants who are Kentucky residents;
3. Applicants with an ACT composite score of 20 or above or its equivalent on the COMPASS exam and other measurement parameters as determined by the individual college;
4. Applicants who have completed 12 or more credit hours in the approved curriculum with a “C” or better in all prerequisite courses;
5. Applicants who have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher from any regionally accredited college; or
6. Applicants who have completed all general education and supportive courses in the approved curriculum.

Readmission

A student may be readmitted to the EMS/Paramedic Program one (1) time unless the EMS/ Paramedic Admissions Committee recommends readmission a second time; there is no third readmission. The student must furnish sufficient evidence of remedial study, additional preparation or resolution of factors contributing to unsuccessful program completion.

Readmission to the program will be dependent upon the following:

1. Request for readmission is submitted at least one month prior to the beginning of the semester and must meet the following criteria:
   1. request must be written and addressed to the program coordinator;
   2. must present evidence to justify readmission;
   3. meet current curriculum guidelines; and
   4. have completed all general education and supportive courses within the curriculum.
2. sufficient available program resources, i.e. faculty, lab and clinical space; and
3. if more than one (1) semester has elapsed since enrollment in a program course, the student must successfully complete a written and skill proficiency examination to ensure competency at the level of re-entry into the program.

Application for admission is not a guarantee of readmission to the program.

Transfer

Applicants or enrolled students who desire to transfer from one KCTCS EMS – Paramedic Program to another, or from another Paramedic Program outside of KCTCS:

1. must meet all admission requirements of the receiving institution;
2. must submit an official transcript (if not KCTCS institution) for evaluation by the program coordinator and/or EMS/ Paramedic Admissions Committee;
3. must submit a written request to the program coordinator stating anticipated entry date and reason for transfer to the program of the receiving institution;
4. must have the program coordinator from the program previously attended submit a letter of recommendation to the receiving institution;
5. may be awarded transfer credit if the sequence and course content parallel those courses offered by the receiving institution; and
6. may be required to meet re-admission standards if deemed necessary by the program faculty and/or admission committee.

If more than two (2) semesters or one (1) year has elapsed since enrollment in a Paramedic Program, the applicant must repeat all courses at the receiving institution.

Acceptance of any transfer student will be dependent upon available resources.

Applicants desiring to transfer from a Paramedic Program:

1. should apply at least two (2) months prior to the beginning of the semester in which they wish to enroll;
2. may be awarded transfer credit if the sequence and course content parallel those courses required in the KCTCS EMS – Paramedic curriculum; determination to be made by the program coordinator of the receiving institution;
3. may be awarded transfer credit if the sequence and course content do not parallel those courses required in the paramedic program under the following condition(s):
   1. only after evaluation of transcripts and course syllabi by the Paramedic program coordinator, registrar, and/or EMS-Paramedic Admissions Committee; and
   2. after successful completion of a special examination or additional course(s) deemed necessary by the program coordinator and/or EMS/ Paramedic Admissions Committee in order to enter or complete the program.