The current Paramedic program takes one year (3 semesters) to complete. The Paramedic program starts in the Fall semester each year. Those interested in participating within the program must make formal application to the program, and must be accepted into the program in order to sign up for classes. Departmental approval is required in order to sign up for any course related to the Paramedic program. Program size is typically limited to 24 candidates due to availability of clinical opportunities within specific settings.
Please see KCC Course Catalog for program prerequisites.
Courses include: EMT 152, 161A/C, 162A/B, 163A/B, 165, 166A/B, 167A/B, and 168.
Candidates with course completion grades below 80% can not be recommended for licensure examination, according to current state guidelines.
The Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic (EMT-P) is the level of licensure for those working in the patient transport realm that provide IV therapy, pharmacological management, electrical therapy, ECG monitoring, and advanced airway control within the field of Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
Paramedics are responsible for responding to emergency situations, and providing initial assessment and management for the sick or injured patient. Paramedics are considered to have a higher level of licensure than Medical First Responders (MFRs) and EMT-Basics. Most EMS agencies will require at least an EMT-B license in order to allow the provider to work on an ambulance transporting patients. The Paramedic may perform more patient care than the EMT, due to the nature of the patient's chief complaint, and the type of care required for the complaint.
Paramedics assist in the care and stabilization of the patient, and assist in preparing the patient for transport. All EMTs are expected to interact with the public, demonstrating a professional, comforting, and caring attitude. All EMTs are expected to help in the movement of patients from their location to an ambulance for transport to definitive care. All EMTs routinely provide transport to definitive care facilities, providing either patient care, or driving the unit. Safe driving practices are both required and expected within this field. Many employers monitor require good driving records of all personnel transporting indivduals.
The tasks performed by the Paramedic can be physically challenging; many prehospital care providers are expected to be able to lift 125 pounds (equipment, patient) routinely. All EMS providers can anticipate the need to perform prolonged resuscitation efforts on individuals in cardiac arrest. The Paramedic, being the highest level of prehospital care in the field, is ultimately responsible for all aspects of patient care and management. The Paramedic needs to ensure that all interventions and actions performed by all other providers on scene are done correctly. The Paramedic may need to address errors or omissions on scene with other providers, and act in an educational role. Good communication skills are vital to the successful Paramedic.
The Paramedic is expected to know to a high degree of understanding: Pharmacology (medications, indications for use, contraindications, doses, routes of administration, side effects, et al), Cardiology (electrocardiographic monitoring, interpretation of rhythms, electrical therapy, 12-lead ecg interpretation, et al), Anatomy and Physiology, Assessment and Management of patients presenting with medical or traumatic emergencies; the Paramedic is expected to provide initial stabilization of same, and provide continuing care to the patient en route to the hospital.