Emergency Medical Services

Emergency Medical Services Orientation Student Success

NOTE….. • Completion certificates will NOT be accepted if they are more than 3 months old when your class starts. • Purpose – to ensure your session iscompletedright 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. • A. True B. False • The program does need a copy of your HS diploma or transcripts • A. True B. False

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)

Code of conduct – highlights • 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

Code of conduct – highlights • 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

Questions – to answer to move on • 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

Questions – to answer to move on • Sagging, jeans, skinny pants, low riding pants will NOT be tolerated • A. True B. False • Which of the following is allowed? • A. facial hair • B. visible tattoos • C. jewelry • D. well groomed hair

Questions – to answer to move on • Jackets need to be black or navy blue, plain, and without a hood • A. True B. False

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

Questions – to answer to move on • It is ok for you to miss day 1 of class • A. True B. False • You can miss up to ______ of the class hours • A. 10% • B. 20% • C. 30% • D. 40%

Questions – to answer to move on • If you miss skills time you will have to pay $30.00 / hour to complete the hours missed. • A. True B. False • Missed time is counted hour-by-hour you will not be able to get the time back. • A. True B. False • If you miss 2 clinical days you will fail the clinical course. • A. True B. False

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

Emergency Medical Services