This 64 credit-hour program is a joint educational venture with Northwest Community Healthcare, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department, and William Rainey Harper College. Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) program fulfills prescribed requirements by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to practice the art and science of pre-hospital care under the direct supervision of a licensed physician or a registered professional nurse credentialed in emergency care. Where authorized, EMT-P function under the direction of an EMS medical director in an Illinois Department of Public Health approved Advanced Life Support (ALS) provider agency. EMT-P follows strict guidelines for procedures that can be performed and for those procedures that provide extensive pre-hospital care. Paramedics are accountable to medical directors, their peers, the health care team and the public.

Paramedics are professional providers whose goal is to prevent and reduce mortality and morbidity due to illness and injury. They are expected to assess and recognize medical, traumatic, emotional, and psychological emergencies as well as render basic life support care through advanced life support care in a wide variety of environmental conditions to people of all ages. They are responsible for transporting patients to medical facilities for further care and attention.

Working conditions vary. Paramedics work both indoors and outdoors. Openings occur for all working shifts including working on weekends and holidays. Many employers in this field require employees to be on call. Competition for jobs will be excellent in fire, police, or rescue squad departments, hospitals and private ambulance service due to attractive pay, benefits and job security. Many job openings occur due to replacement needs. Employment is projected to grow rapidly as paid emergency medical technician positions replace unpaid volunteers.

Admission Requirements: This is a limited enrollment program and has special requirements.

 

Required:
BIO 160	Human Anatomy	4
BIO 161	Human Physiology	4
EMS 110	Emergency Medical Technician Training	7
EMS 210	Paramedic I–Preparatory	6
EMS 211	Paramedic II–Medical Emergencies I	6
EMS 212	Paramedic II–Medical Emergencies II	6
EMS 213	Paramedic III–Trauma Emergencies and Special Clients	3
EMS 214	Paramedic–Hospital Internship	2
EMS 215	Paramedic–Field Internship	3
EMS 216	Paramedic Seminar	3
ENG 101	Composition	3
HSC 112	Medical Terminology	3
Mathematics elective (1)		3
NUR 210	Physical Assessment	1
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology or
SOC 101	Introduction to Sociology	3
SPE 101	Fundamentals of Speech Communication	3
Electives (2)		4

1. A competency test, available in the testing office, may be utilized to meet the mathematics elective requirement. Students in this program who utilize the competency test to meet the mathematics requirement must complete a three credit-hour elective approved by the program coordinator.
2. Electives: BIO 130 or CHM 100, HSC 100, PHI 180.