Paramedicine

The Paramedic is an allied health professional whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possesses the complex knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation. Paramedics function as part of a comprehensive EMS response under medical oversight. Paramedics perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found in an ambulance. The Paramedic is a link from the scene to the health care system.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that employment of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics will grow by 11% between 2020 and 2030, which is faster than the average for all U.S. occupations (source: www.bls.gov). The increasingly aging population is expected to lead to more medical emergencies, creating a higher demand for EMTs and paramedics. 

Overcrowding in emergency rooms also contributes to the growing need for EMTs and paramedics as it increases the time they must spend with each patient. As a result, the number of job positions for EMTs and paramedics is expected to rise. Additionally, there are good job prospects in this field as there is a need for paid employees to replace volunteers, who have a high turnover rate. 

To prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician, and/or Emergency Medical Responder levels. 

Schedules:

• Fall Semester September - December
• Spring Semester January - May
• Summer Semester May - July

Paramedic Program

• Fall Spring
• Day Option Evening Option
• M/T/W/Th T/W/Th
• 8 am - 3 pm 5 pm - 10 pm

Day Program

• Didactic Lectures and Labs run from September - March
• Clinical Time - March Start
• Field Time - July Start

Evening Program

• Didactic Lectures and Labs run from January - October
• Clinical Time - November Start
• Field Time - March Start

Applicants seeking admission to health profession programs will be evaluated on an individual basis. Students seeking admission will be evaluated by GPA and the number of college-level credits completed at MassBay.

Priority for admission is given to current MassBay students. Applicants must also meet all other required course prerequisites for the program. Minimum eligibility for admission to this program includes the following:
 

• HS Diploma or GED
• MassBay Placement into Freshman English I (EN 101) or completion of Fundamentals of Composition II (EN 098) with a grade of C or higher.
• MassBay Placement into Intermediate Algebra (MA 098) or completion of Introduction of Algebra (MA 95) with a grade of C or higher.
• Successful completion of the Reading Assessment Test. Refer to the Competitive Programs Admissions Requirements.
• Current Nationally Registered and/or state-certified EMT required prior to enrolling in Paramedicine courses. Students who enter with NREMT EMT Certification only must obtain MA EMT certification before enrolling in PM 210.

Current CPR certification (AHA BLS, ARC Professional Rescuer, Military Training Network).

 

• CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and SORI (Sexual Offender Registry Information) background checks are required before clinical placement and will be conducted per state regulations. CORI and SORI results are confidential.
• Students must have a valid, unrestricted driver’s license in order to seek employment in the field.
• Students who do not submit the required Division of Health Sciences (DHS) health forms or other required information will have a health hold placed on their records preventing course registration. Forms/information must be submitted to the DHS compliance coordinator. Refer to the DHS Student Handbook for additional information.

Once students complete both parts of the NREMT initial examination, they may apply to the MA Office of Emergency Medical Services for Licensure at the appropriate level. The initial fee for Licensure is $150, payable to MA OEMS upon completion of the NREMT exam. Licensure applications and fees are explained on the MA OEMS website at www.mass.gov/dph/oems. EMS licenses are valid for two years and must be recertified biannually upon completion of mandatory continuing education and current NREMT certification.