Emergency Medical Services

OrientationStudent Success

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

NOTE…..

• Completion certificates will NOT be accepted if they are more than 3 months old when your class starts.

• Purpose – to ensure your session is completed right before class begins so program information is fresh.

NOTE

• ALL information about the program can be found on the website:

•Emsacademy.hccs.edu

BASIC COURSE – 256 HOURS

• Classes offered at NE campus and Katy Campus

• NE campus• Day course – meets M / T / TH – 8a - 4p• Night course – meets M / T / TH – 6p – 10p• Night course will include some Saturdays - 8a – 4p

• Hybrid course – meets Saturday – 9a – 4p• Hybrid coursework is done on-line during the week – you will meet

on Saturdays for skills and testing

BASIC CLASSES

• Katy campus• Day class – meets T / TH – 8a – 4p (fall / spring semesters)

• Day class – meets T / TH / F – 8a – 4p (summer semester)

• Night class – meets M / T / TH – 6p – 10p

BASIC EMT - COURSEWORK

– Classroom – EMSP 1501 - lecture and skills –176 hours – • You will take 5 major exams before your final exam – For you to stay in your course your major exam average (after 4th

exam) has to be 70%– If it is less than 70% you will be dismissed from the program

– Other items needed for you to successfully complete your course: – Score a 75% on your final exam– Have a 75% overall average when all grades are calculated– Pass all the skills you will be “tested” on

BASIC EMT - COURSEWORK

– Clinical rotations – EMSP 1160 - 64 hours –The course will consist of:• 1 - 8 hour – ER rotation• 4 – 12 hour ambulance rotations

– Rotations are done over a 2 week period – all days of the week are fair game

– You will supply our clinical coordinator with calendar of your available dates over the 2 weeks (5 or more days will be needed) so a schedule for rotations can be created.

ADVANCED - EMT (AEMT) – 400 HOURS

• Completion of the EMT-Basic coursework is a prerequisite

• Classes are offered at the:

• NE campus

• Night class – meets M / T / TH – 6p – 10p

• Night class will include some Saturdays

• Hybrid – meets Saturday – 9a – 4p

• Hybrid coursework is done on-line during the week – you will meet on Saturdays for skills and testing

• Katy campus - Day class – meets M / T / F – 8a – 5p

AEMT COURSEWORK

• Classroom / clinical courses

• 3 classroom courses – 256 hours

• EMSP 1338, 1356, 1355

• Quizzes / Final Exam with each course

• 1 clinical course – 144 hours

• EMSP 1263

PARAMEDIC COURSE – 944 HOURS

• AEMT coursework is a prerequisite

• Classes offered at the NE campus

• Day class – Fall semester – meets T / TH – 8a – 5p

• Day class – Spring semester – meets M / W – 8a – 5p

PARAMEDIC COURSEWORK

• Classroom / clinical courses

• 6 classroom courses - 560 hours

• EMSP 2348, 2444, 2434, 2430, 2338, 2243

• Quizzes / Final Exam with each course

• 3 clinical courses – 384 hours

• EMSP 2260, 2261, 2262

INFORMATION

• If you are not currently a student at HCCS

• Go to hccs.edu – click on future student – follow admissions steps to become a student

INFORMATION

• Courses are capped at 20 – 25 people

• Requirements to get into the program can be found on website

• emsacademy.hccs.edu

• Click on the Admissions link for information

INFORMATION• You must meet with a Counselor, prior to registration, so they can clear your

TSI information (Texas Success Initiative) – Reading requirement

• If you attended college somewhere other than HCC take your transcripts with you

• If you have NOT attended college you will need to take the Compass test – Reading / Math / Writing evaluation

• Your reading score needs to show us you read at a college level

• Counselor will give you the information needed to get this test done

• If you have not been in school for a while it would be wise for you to use the following site to prepare for the Compass test:

• hccs.edu/hcc_prep

INFORMATION

• No matter what your educational status - a copy of your High School transcript or diploma is required

• This is a Department of State Health Services requirement – not HCC

• 4 items needed to register –

• Obtain counselor – TSI – clearance

• Hepatitis B – shot #1

• Meningitis shot – 30 years old or less

• Copy of Background check receipt – obtain by:

• Going to www.precheck.com – click on Student (box at top of page) – click on Student Self-help Page – click on click here under #1• Once you pay for the background check a receipt will be

emailed to you – you need this document to register

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• The rest of the documents you will need to complete the program

• Can be found on the website (emsacademy.hccs.edu)

• Listed under the Admission link

QUESTIONS – TO ANSWER TO MOVE ON

• Information on requirements needed to register can be found on our website – emsacademy.hcc.edu – under the EMS course link.

• A. True B. False

• You need to meet with an HCC counselor ONLY so he / she can clear your TSI (reading) requirement.


• The program does need a copy of your HS diploma or transcripts


BOOK INFORMATION

• Book / workbook you will need can be found on our website - emsacademy.hccs.edu

• Click on EMS courses – click on EMS textbook

• Click on hot link to get on to publisher’s site to buy book / workbook / course navigate code

• There will be a limited number of books at the

• Katy campus – 1550 Foxlake Dr. (I-10 W @ Fry Rd.)

• If you purchase at this location be sure to ask for the Navigate course code (kept with cashier)

EMS BOOKS

• If you do NOT buy your book / workbook on our website OR if you buy an eBook

• You will have to buy a Navigate course code

• It will cost you - $40 (+) dollars

• It has to be bought from the publisher

• If you buy an e-Book / workbook you need bring the device you are going to view these on to class day 1

• So Program Director / Instructor can see you have a book and workbook

CODE OF CONDUCT – HIGHLIGHTS

• Must wear full uniform to class everyday

• Lab jacket will be needed for your clinical course

• You do not need to wear the lab jacket to class everyday

• Pants will be worn at your natural waist – your belly button

• SAGGING will NOT be tolerated.

• NO jeans or skinny pants or low riding pants

CODE OF CONDUCT - HIGHLIGHTS

• Fire students – uniform needs –• EMS patch on Left shoulder

• EMS blue T shirt

• EMS ID badge

• Lab jacket

• ALL students need stethoscope and goggles• goggles need to be clear (not tinted)


• The following are not allowed

• Visible body / tongue piercings

• Earrings / necklaces / bracelets

• Visible tattoos

• Facial hair

• Fingernails can’t extend more that ½ inch from fingertip

• No overlays or “false” nails allowed


• If you need a jacket to stay warm it needs to be• PLAIN black or navy blue – WITHOUT a hood

• A PLAIN long sleeve black or navy blue shirt can be worn under HCC EMS T-shirt if needed for cold weather

• You need to read rest of the code of conduct on our website so you are prepared for what is expected when your course begins


• 2 places to obtain the book and workbook are:

• A. online through emsacademy.hccs.edu

• B. any online site

• C. Katy campus

• D. both A and C

• You must wear your complete uniform to class everyday

• A. true B. false


• Sagging, jeans, skinny pants, low riding pants will NOT be tolerated


• Which of the following is allowed?

• A. facial hair

• B. visible tattoos

• C. jewelry

• D. well groomed hair


• Jackets need to be black or navy blue, plain, and without a hood


YOU MUST BE IN CLASS ON DAY 1

YOU MUST BE ON TIME

YOU CANNOT MISS ANY OF THIS DAY

INFORMATION• Missed time – CANNOT BE DAY 1– You can miss 10% of the course hours – however – you will be assigned

course work to keep your seat in the class • Course work for missed lecture (class) time– At the beginning of each chapter there are Knowledge Objectives – you

will answer all the objectives, in detail, and turn in the work the next class meeting

• If absent on a skills day or you miss time during this day– You will meet, on your time, with a skills instructor and pay $30.00 / hour

to fulfill the time missed.

• Missed time is counted hour-by-hour - once you miss time you do not get it back

INFORMATION

• Missed clinical time– 1st absence = your clinical grade drops by a letter– 2nd absence = you will not continue your rotations and receive an F for

the course– If you miss your ER rotation

• If there is not a slot available to place you in to you will pay a preceptor $30.00 / hour to do the rotation so you can complete the program

– If this is your 2nd miss you will be removed from the program prior to this “make-up”

• Missed time Policy is not to punish – it is to deter you from missing time


• It is ok for you to miss day 1 of class


• You can miss up to ______ of the class hours

• A. 10%

• B. 20%

• C. 30%

• D. 40%


• If you miss skills time you will have to pay $30.00 / hour to complete the hours missed.


• Missed time is counted hour-by-hour you will not be able to get the time back.


• If you miss 2 clinical days you will fail the clinical course.


STUDENT SUCCESS INFORMATION

OBSTACLES / RESPONSIBILITIES• Students usually fail because they are overwhelmed• These class are NOT like normal academic courses • You will need to study and prepare to be successful

• Your life needs to revolve around the program• The program is not going to revolve around your life• We move forward through the coursework – there is no time to go

back and repeat things you missed if you are absent or not prepared

• To be successful in the program you need to • Make contingency plans on how to handle your life away from the

program

OBSTACLES / RESPONSIBILITIES• Here are examples of items that may get in your way and keep you from

studying and preparing for coursework:

• Child care / Job / transportation / family / money / time / spouse

• You may need some help with above items so you can put the time into coursework needed to be successful

• Once you find some “help” line up a back-up so if something happens with #1 you have a person to fall back on.

OBSTACLES / RESPONSIBILITIES

• As you continue your training in EMS

• Semester by semester the time you will need help can change so meet with your back-up who is helping you

• The planning session allows your helper to understand when you will need them

• Those who are helping you need to plan their lives and help you – you getting with them will keep them from becoming overwhelmed

OBSTACLES / RESPONSIBILITIES

• When you get down time (Spring break) you need to take back your responsibilities so your “helper” gets some down time (time off)

• When someone is helping you need to work hard to be successful• If you fail because you have not been applying

yourself your back-up will not be there to help you if you want to try again.

EMS EDUCATION

• The curriculum is cumulative – meaning:• What you learn on day 1 will be information you could see

on all tests you take

• You MUST learn this information so you can retain it as you will use the knowledge throughout your career

– There is no extra credit given and no curving of grades

READING TO LEARN

• You MUST read the book to be successful

• The BEST thing you can do to prepare is:

• Read your chapters before you come to class

• As you read take notes on information you need help with

• This allows you to ask questions in class so your instructor can explain and clarify the information. This will allow you to understand and learn.

• Lectures can’t cover everything in each chapter but

• All information in the book is fair game for course tests and National Registry certifying exam so you have to read cover to cover.

READING TO LEARN

• The Textbook has all information needed to be successful• Does you no good if it is not opened

• Bottom line…..If you don’t read the book• Chance of completion are slim

• With that said….

If you don’t have your Book and Workbook on day 1 of class

You will be DROPPED from the course

The Book and Workbook need to be NEW

• You have got to carve out time to study and prepare everyday

• As stated earlier the curriculum is cumulative so you need to study the same way

• You can’t learn all this “new” information overnight or in 1 weekend

• When it is study time - Learn to say “no”

• You can’t be everything to everyone

• Everyone needs to buy into your educational endeavors and give you the time to study and prepare

LISTENING SKILLS• Listening is one of the MOST important skills of a successful health care

professional• Leave your mental baggage at the door – come in ready to learn• Ensure you can hear the instructor– No talking during lecture – pay attention during skills

• Concentrate on the content of lecture– Not how it is delivered– You can’t pick your instructor (or future boss)

• Reel in your wandering mind– Have a piece of paper available so you can write down “to-do’s”

you need to take care of when you leave class – This allows you to mentally stay with instructor

NOTE TAKING• Another important skill• To do it right you need to combine the:– Art of listening• You have to listen to obtain explanations • If trying to write everything the instructor says you will miss ½ of

what is said

– Act of selective writing– This can happen if you come to class prepared – you read the

chapters and have your notes on questions you need answered– You can then selectively write what you need – you will not be trying

to write everything instructor is saying

NOTES• Review them as soon as possible after class

• Editing and rewriting notes increases your learning

• Don’t wait more than 24 hours to do this

• Average person forgets ½ of what was said

• Place all handouts with notes for the days lectures together

• Keep in order and accessible so you can review them as needed

• Remember this is a cumulative curriculum

• Memory paths are created and maintained by repeated use

• Reading / note taking / active listening

INSTRUCTORS

• Their job is NOT to be your “friend”

• It is to prepare you to become an Entry-level medic

• They are preparing you to take care of someone’s life NOT to do harm because you are not prepared

• They all take their job seriously

• They expect you to do the same

• Our motto is - 80% on you / 20% on us

• To do your 80% you need to come to class prepared and study for exams

EQUIPMENT

• Used to prepare you for your profession

• Most is very costly

• If you damage or abuse it

• You WILL be dropped from the program

• Best practice• If the instructor takes a break you take a break so you are not tempted to

do something you should not with the equipment

TESTS

• In medicine you are tested constantly

• Tests are a fact of life

• Classroom tests can provide you with opportunities to increase your learning

• Tests:

• Encourage students to study

• Teach you to work under pressure

• So you can work calmly and efficiently when it counts

TESTS

• They ID what you know and don’t know• Can mark your progress toward achieving your goal

• Learn from your mistakes – if you don’t understand why you missed a concept• Get the explanation from instructor so you can understand or

you will always miss future questions on the subject

TEST TAKING

• You need to get online and take your quizzes

• Your quizzes will be opened on-line for a period of time then they shut off

• Once off they will not be turned back on

• Remember you must have a 75% overall average

• Not taking quizzes could cause you to fail the program

CHEATING

• Don’t cheat

• You will become a dangerous practitioner

• It undermines integrity

• You don’t learn

• If caught you will be dropped from the program


• If you do not prepare and study extra credit or curving of grades will occur so you can pass the program


• Reading before your come to class and writing questions to get answers once in class is the best path to success.


• On day 1 of class you need a new book and workbook



• The most important skill in a health care profession is:

• A. Reading

• B. Writing

• C. Listening

• D. Talking

• If you try to write everything an instructor says you will miss

• A. ¼ of what is said

• B. ½ of what is said

• C. ¾ of what is said

• D. all of what is said


• Coming to class prepared allows you to actively listen and selectively write which enables you to take good notes.


• If you mistreat and damage or break the equipment you will be dismissed from the program


• If you cheat the program will forgive you and let you complete your coursework


IN-CLASS RELATIONSHIPS

• These are NOT encouraged

• Problems occur if the relationship ends

• Review Code of Conduct on this matter

• You are in class to STUDY and obtain a certification

OTHER COSTS

• National Registry Exam

• Basic - $70.00 – is part of your clinical payment

• Advanced – EMT-I $100.00 / Paramedic - $110.00 – you need to pay for this

• Finger printing

• $45.00 – EMT-Basics – you need to pay for this

• DSHS (Dept. of State Health Services) application – You pay

• $64.00 (Basic) / $96.00 / $126.00 (LP) - (Advanced)

• Finger printing and DSHS fees will be discussed in class

FIRST DAY OF CLASS

• You need:

• New book and workbook

• Full uniform

• Uniform shirt – HCC T-shirt – black pants – right belt – black socks (uniform) – black boots – ID badge

• Code of conduct compliance

• One more slide →

DURING CLASS

• Picture may be taken by instructors during class

• If you have a problem with this let us know

Documents

Emergency Medical Services