EMS Program
Clinical Information Guide

Program Contact Information

Department Overview

The Temple College EMS Department prepares students to take the National Registry's certification exam and to be competent entry-level ECAs, EMTs, Advanced EMTs, and Paramedics. Students who pass the National Registry Exam can apply to the Texas Department of State Health Service (DSHS) for Texas certification. To work in Texas, you must be certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Students who complete the EMT course are encouraged to consider continued education in the paramedic program.

The Temple College Paramedic program allows EMS students to pursue either paramedic certification or an AAS degree in EMS. After completing the paramedic certification process, the student may choose to continue his or her studies in EMS. Additionally, this program allows previously trained paramedics to continue their education to attain the AAS degree. This flexibility reemphasizes the value of community college-based EMS education.

Temple College conducts EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic courses at the main campus in Temple and the East Williamson County Higher Education Center in Hutto. Students who successfully complete the first semester of coursework beyond EMT and meet the additional clinical and skill requirements may take the Advanced EMT certification examination. Students are encouraged to continue the coursework leading to the paramedic certification process as well as the Associate of Applied Science degree. Classes and labs are designed to promote the learning and application of knowledge and clinical skills. Clinical rotations are also required for all courses except the EMR course. These rotations provide exceptional opportunities for students to learn and apply clinical skills in the clinic, hospital, and pre-hospital environments.

The Temple College EMS Department is located in the Health Science Center on the Main Campus. Full-time Faculty maintain regular office hours; however, students are strongly encouraged to arrange an appointment. Adjunct Faculty are available by appointment only. Students are also encouraged to utilize the EMS Department's website to obtain current information.

Accreditation Status

The Temple College Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

• CAAHEP: www.caahep.org — (727) 210-2350
• CoAEMSP: www.coaemsp.org — (214) 703-8445

Program Goals

Each program prepares graduates who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.

• EMT Program – To prepare Emergency Medical Technicians who are competent in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains to enter the profession.
• Advanced EMT – To prepare Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians who are competent in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains to enter the profession.
• Paramedic – To prepare Paramedics who are competent in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains to enter the profession.

Professional Behavior

Students are expected to behave compassionately, professionally, ethically and must demonstrate professional behaviors at all times during the program. Each student will be evaluated during the course on fifteen areas related to professional behavior. A student who demonstrates inappropriate ethical or professional behavior will be promptly advised and subject to disciplinary action. Penalties range from probation to expulsion from the program.

Students are evaluated on several traits. Below are examples of appropriate behavior for each of these areas. Each student must consistently demonstrate and achieve competency in these areas to pass the course and program.

Professional Code of Conduct

As Emergency Medical Services providers strive to improve professional status, it is incumbent upon each of us to demonstrate the qualities of a "true professional". EMS students are equally vital to this effort as they are frequently exposed to and evaluated by patients and other healthcare providers. The attitude, appearance, and performance of EMS students directly impact the impressions others have of the EMS profession as a whole. Students who develop habits, skills, knowledge and abilities consistent with a Professional Code of Conduct improve the likelihood of their future success as EMS professionals. Lifelong, professional EMS habits and skills developed now will most likely be recognized and appreciated by prospective employers. Students of the EMS Department are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this Professional Code of Conduct whenever they represent the EMS Department.

1. 1

   Public Service & Compassionate Care. The primary purpose of Emergency Medical Services is to respond to persons in need of medical, psychological and, in some cases, social assistance in a compassionate, medically appropriate manner. EMS is primarily about providing a public service. EMS professionals often are invited into the homes of strangers in anticipation of compassionate, appropriate care and if necessary, safe transportation to appropriate healthcare facilities. Although at times it may seem difficult, EMS professionals must not forget the community's expectations of respectful, dignified, compassionate care as well as timely, efficient, clinically appropriate service. EMS students demonstrate this by their constant willingness, eagerness and desire to assist in all patient care tasks even if the tasks appear menial or inconsequential.

2. 2

   Respect for the Physician and EMS Relationship. As extensions of the physician, EMS providers have a responsibility to respect the medical license under which they are allowed to function. EMS professionals render medical care when a physician is not immediately available. This truly is a privilege that has been earned through years of professional work by many dedicated physicians, paramedics, advanced EMTs, EMTs, first responders and EMS educators. The physician and patient trust the emergency responders to respect this privilege. Thus, the responsible performance of paramedics, advanced EMTs, EMTs and first responders contributes to continued professional growth and clinical advancement of EMS. EMS students demonstrate their respect for this relationship by following established clinical training guidelines and performing only those procedures that have been authorized by a physician and that are within the limits of their knowledge and skill.

3. 3

   Respectful Interaction with the Healthcare Team. Respectful interaction with other members of the healthcare community is vital to quality care of the patient. The EMS professional represents one member of a much larger team of healthcare providers who each play a role in the care of the patient. Since the EMS professional is often the first team member to care for the patient, his or her interaction with other healthcare providers often is crucial. Effective interaction requires the EMS professional to conduct himself or herself in a respectful, courteous and knowledgeable manner. It requires that the EMS professional be attentive to and respectful of the ideas of other healthcare team members. Respectfully disagreeing in the appropriate setting is acceptable. However, the patient's care must never be jeopardized. EMS students may demonstrate their gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of this team by actively assisting and participating during clinical rotations and classroom learning. The student should take advantage of this tremendous opportunity to learn from other members of the healthcare community.

4. 4

   Teamwork and Leadership. EMS professionals must respect and recognize the value of teamwork and leadership. EMS professionals rely on other team (crew) members to assist in accomplishing the task of providing care and service. The EMS professional or student who fails to use effective listening, communication, and delegation skills will most likely be ineffective. Leadership must not be confused with command. The effective EMS professional and student will develop and practice skills that convince team members to follow the leader's plan of action.

5. 5

   Continuum of Education. The EMS professional must recognize the continuum of education that is characteristic of the science and art of medicine and, therefore, must maintain a personal responsibility for his or her never-ending education. Both EMS professionals and students must constantly strive to learn from each and every educational and clinical experience. As the practice of medicine changes, so must the practice of the EMS professional. Students must take advantage of the learning opportunities and resources provided to them. The better the student's educational and clinical experiences, the better prepared he or she will be to function as an EMS professional.

6. 6

   Moral and Ethical Conduct. As members of the healthcare community, EMS professionals are rightfully held to an extremely high standard of moral and ethical conduct. Honesty, confidentiality, respect for others, respect for the healthcare profession, a willingness to serve, a willingness to learn, and clinical proficiency are expectations of the EMS employer, the patient, and the community. EMS students must conduct themselves in a manner that leaves NO question as to their high standards of moral and ethical conduct. The privilege to provide medical care under a physician's license and the consent to provide this care to "strangers" depend entirely on the trust and respect earned by the EMS professional through his or her conduct.

Essential Functions

To effectively perform as an EMS Professional, students need to be able to perform certain functions during their training and while employed. The essential functions delineated below are necessary for safe and effective patient care. These skills and abilities are required for program admission, progression and graduation.

The essential functions include but are not limited to the ability to:

Clinical & Field Rotation Policies

Authorization to Attend Clinical and Field Rotations

Students must meet certain qualifications in order to attend a clinical rotation. Student must complete all training and orientation sessions. In addition, student must have turned in all required immunization paperwork, background checks, drug screenings, as well as demonstration of any required psychomotor skills. These are outlined in each course syllabus.

Behavior / Attitude

Students are expected to behave in a professional, mature, and ethical manner at all times. Students who do not abide by this expectation may be dismissed from the program. Please refer to the EMS Student Handbook: Section A for more information. At a minimum, this means you should:

• Arrive prior to the beginning of shift (at least 15 minutes)
• Be ready to work upon arrival
• Demonstrate compassionate, caring, and appropriate management
• Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic
• Complete your entire shift

Clinical Affiliate Policies

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations of each clinical site. Violation of clinical affiliate policies may subject the student to disciplinary action by the EMS Department or the College.

In addition to the policies listed within EMS Student Handbooks and the Temple College Student Handbook, students attending clinical or field rotations, seminars, classes, or any other activity sponsored by outside organizations are subject to that organization's policies and decisions. Violation or disregard of these policies or decisions can affect your continued enrollment in this program.

Below is a list of some of the significant policies. This is not an all-inclusive list. It is the responsibility of the student to ask permission if they are unsure of a policy.

• There is no smoking allowed on Baylor Scott and White property. Students wishing to smoke must do so in their vehicle.
• Parking during the day at Baylor Scott & White facilities is strictly regulated. Students are only allowed to park in the staff parking lots (blue lots). Students who park in other areas will be ticketed or towed.
• Students are not permitted to have a full beard at Williamson County EMS. Students may have a mustache that does not hang over the upper lip. Neatly trimmed goatees are permitted as long as they are less than 1 inch. Failure to comply with this policy will result in the student being sent home and the student will receive a "0" for that clinical shift.
• Some clinical affiliates require the student to carry personal health insurance to complete clinicals at these sites. Students who do not provide documentation of health insurance are not able to choose these sites for their clinical experiences. These are listed in the clinical orientation paperwork.

Expectation of Students

Students should come to each clinical rotation ready to participate. This means they should have the appropriate equipment and relevant clinical documentation forms. They should also be rested and ready to learn.

Students should bring food or money to cover their meals during clinical rotations. Students are not to order food delivery to a hospital or field shift.

If you experience any problems or conflicts at any clinical site, contact your preceptor immediately. You should also contact the Clinical Coordinator as soon as possible. If she is unavailable, you may contact your course instructor.

If a staff member is particularly helpful, please let them know personally that you appreciate his or her time and efforts. If you feel someone needs special recognition, please forward his or her name and the details of the incident to the Clinical Coordinator so a note of appreciation can be forwarded to them.

• Students should not seek medical advice for themselves, their family, or their friends while on field or clinical rotations.
• Students should not bring friends or relatives to field or clinical rotations under any circumstances.
• Students should not discuss or criticize the actions of physicians, nurses, technicians, support staff, field personnel, or program faculty and staff. If they have a problem or concern, they should take it up privately with the Clinical Coordinator, Lead Instructor or the Program Director.

Patient Confidentiality

Students are expected to hold all patient and institutional information in the strictest confidence at all times. The discussion of any patient information outside of the classroom setting is NOT permissible. During these discussions, the patient may NEVER be identified by name or any other means that would reasonably disclose his or her identity. This includes documentation in Platinum Planner. Information concerning the clinical or field internship site is NOT to be discussed with any unauthorized individual under ANY circumstances.

If you see a friend, neighbor or relative in an informal setting (for example, walking down the hall) during a rotation, please do not ask him or her why they are there. This is confidential information and these types of questions cannot be asked.

Students are not permitted to use hospital or field staff computers to access or input patient data under any circumstances.

Patient confidentiality extends to postings to social media sites and the use of electronic technology. Please refer to the social media and electronic technology policies in Section A for more information.

Dress Code

Students will wear the appropriate uniform to each clinical rotation. The uniform must be clean and neat and meet the criteria expressed in the dress code. The clinical uniform will be worn to all rotations with the exception of the operating room, where students will be issued scrubs. Students are not permitted to wear the uniform while outside of an EMS activity.

• Pants. Students will wear EMS style pants that are dark blue or black. The pants will be hemmed and may not have drawstring style closures. The pants shall be kept neat and clean.
• Shirt. The clinical uniform shirt shall be white and of a pleated uniform style. Shirts shall be kept clean, neat and ironed. A clean pure white undershirt will also be worn. Students may NOT wear the classroom uniform shirt during clinical rotations. The clinical uniform shirt shall have a Temple College EMS Department patch affixed 1 inch down on the right sleeve. State certification patches should be worn 1 inch down on the left sleeve.
• Footwear. Shoes or boots must be low-heeled, closed toe, black and in a neat and clean condition.
• Scene safety. While at an accident scene, students are expected to meet the safety standards set by ANSI 207-2006. This requires the student to bring and wear a safety vest or reflective clothing. Please ensure your vest or jacket meets the requirements set by ANSI 207-2006.
• Outerwear and hats. Navy blue, black or high visibility jackets, windbreakers, or coats may be worn in inclement weather, as long as they have been approved by the Clinical Coordinator. Outerwear may not have any logos or lettering. This includes hats. Ballcaps may be worn on field shifts as long as the site allows. Hats may be blue or black and cannot have any logo or writing. Hats are not permitted on hospital rotations.
• Identification. Students must clearly be identified as a student with Temple College. Students are not permitted to wear clothing that represents a hospital, EMS service or fire department. Nametags shall be worn at all times. The nametag will be issued by the Temple College Admissions and Records Department. The nametag shall be worn in a manner that permits the student to be identified by full name, status, and affiliation.
• Equipment. Students should wear a watch with a second hand (or digital), bring eye protection, stethoscope, pen light, small note pad, pen and clinical documentation to all clinical rotations.
• Hands and nails. Hands, including fingernails, must be clean and neat. Garish nail polish is not acceptable. Nails cannot extend more than one quarter inch beyond the fingertips.
• Hair and facial hair. Hair must be clean, neatly combed, and of a natural color. Long hair must be pulled back and, if necessary, tucked into the shirt. Long hair should not be an irritant or a potential safety hazard to the student, other health care personnel, or patients. Facial hair such as beards and sideburns must be neat, clean, well-trimmed, and able to maintain a seal with an N95 respirator. Some clinical sites prohibit facial hair. Students will be expected to shave their facial hair if they are assigned to one of these sites.
• Fragrance. Excessive perfume that overwhelms patients or preceptors should not be worn.
• Jewelry. No excessive jewelry should be worn. Facial jewelry and body piercings may not be visible. While earrings are not considered facial jewelry, only one small stud may be worn on each ear lobe. Earrings that hang are not allowed. Students should understand that jewelry can be a significant safety and infection control hazard in the clinical setting and should plan accordingly.
• Tattoos. Temple College follows the tattoo policy of the field and hospital facilities. As such, tattoos may need to be covered. If the student has an offensive tattoo, then the tattoo must always be covered. The facilities and College determine what is offensive. A list of services that require tattoos to be covered will be provided during clinical orientation.

Clinical Attendance

Clinical attendance is critical to the success of the EMS student. Not only is this a tremendous opportunity for students to learn, it is also a direct reflection of the student's professionalism and attitude. Absences and tardiness reflect poorly on the student as well as the EMS Department and, most importantly, the EMS profession. In addition, absenteeism and tardiness is not tolerated by healthcare and EMS agencies.

Students will schedule their clinical and field rotations either in Platinum Planner or with the Clinical Coordinator. Once approved and scheduled, all of the shifts will be listed in Platinum Planner. Students are expected to adhere to this schedule and attend all shifts.

Absenteeism Policy

1. In order to provide adequate clinical experiences for all students and to meet the requirements of the program's credentialing agencies, absences from clinical or field shifts will result in a grade penalty.

2. Students may be allowed to reschedule two shifts during a semester regardless of reason. Additional reschedules will result in a 3-point deduction from the final clinical grade. This includes, but is not limited to, absences due to illness, car trouble, family obligations, scheduling conflicts, etc. It is the student's responsibility to reschedule any missed clinicals.

3. Students who cancel a shift or do not show up for a shift have seven days to schedule another shift. Students who do not meet this deadline will have a 5-point deduction from their final clinical grade for each instance.

4. Students are required to schedule clinical and field rotations by the deadline given on the first day of class. Clinical sites have a limited number of spots available for Temple College students and it is imperative that we adhere to the schedule to provide the most opportunities for all students to have a thorough learning experience.

5. Students will be required to meet with the Clinical Coordinator and Program Director if they have two or more absences.

If you are unable to attend a scheduled clinical rotation, you must notify the Clinical Coordinator no less than one hour before the time when you are required to report to the clinical site. If at all possible, the student should give 24 to 48 hours' notice. Do not wait till the last minute. You may leave a message on her office phone, email or Teams. Failure to attend a scheduled clinical rotation without canceling (a "no show") will result in a "0" in the gradebook for that clinical and may result in dismissal from the program.

No Call / No Show Escalation

• 1st Zero in the gradebook and a verbal warning.
• 2nd Student status hearing is conducted, and the faculty may administratively withdraw the student from the program.
• 3rd Dismissal from the program.

Multiple no call or no shows over the course of the program may result in dismissal from the program.

Meal Breaks

You will be allowed to work out lunch or dinner schedules for each day with the preceptor on duty or with the staff of the area in which you are working. Students must remain at the clinical rotation facility during meal breaks. During field rotations, students should plan on being away from the station during their entire shift. As such, you may not be able to return to the station to get your food. Please talk with your preceptor about the best location to store your food. Some crews may plan on purchasing food during the shift.

Students will not leave their clinical or internship sites prior to the end of assigned time without the clinical site approval and after notifying your instructor.

Tardiness

Student Minimum Competency Requirements

Pathology

# Simulation permitted. Parentheses indicate minimum formative and competency requirements (F/C).

Formative

The student conducts patient assessments, performs motor skills, and helps develop a management plan with some assistance. It occurs during clinical or field experience. An activity in which the student's performance is assessed to provide feedback during the educational experience and expose the student to various patients and conditions.

Competency

The student conducts patient assessments and develops a management plan for evaluating each patient with minimal to no assistance. This occurs during clinical, field internship, or field experience. Competency is the performance expectation by which the educational Program can attest that the student has amassed a portfolio of demonstrated performance of skills and abilities necessary for safe and effective care.

Patient Complaints (Live Encounters)

Age Categories (Live Encounters)

# Simulation permitted. Parentheses indicate formative and competency requirements (F/C).

Use of Simulation for Live Patient Encounters

EMT Field & Clinical Requirements

Rotations 80 hours

Competency Check-Offs

• Hospital: Patient Assessment, Vital Signs
• Field: Patient Assessment

EMT Skills (Performed)

AEMT Field & Clinical Requirements

EMSP 1161 Clinical Advanced EMT 96 hours

Competency Requirements

• Oral Intubation
• IV Access
• AEMT Team Lead

AEMT Skills

# Simulation permitted.

Paramedic Field & Clinical Requirements

Clinical Paramedic I 112 hours

Competency Check-Off

• 12-Lead ECG Acquisition / Interpretation
• Capnography

Clinical Paramedic II 96 hours

Completed before Field Internship.

Competency Check-Off

None

EMSP 2260 Field Internship 144 hours

Second 8 weeks.

• Field Competency Check-Off: Call Management
• Field Preceptor Check-Off: Patient Assessment

Paramedic Skills

# Simulation permitted.

Paramedic Program Clock Hours