Emergency Medicine (EM)
     A Bachelor of Science degree in Emergency Medicine can benefit the emergency medical services (EMS) professional in many ways. This dynamic and multi-disciplinary approach to emergency medicine education will provide the student with a strong foundation in clinical experiences, educational expertise, and administrative leadership. This program is designed to meet the growing need for the advanced skill levels required in the EMS profession and to prepare the student for the technical, clinical, and administrative challenges of a career in EMS and health care.
     This unique program recognizes that EMS professionals will be entering this program with varying levels of education, and accordingly is flexible to handle this diversity. The program can be completed on a part-time or full-time basis and permits entry at various levels based on the student's career and academic experience.
     The Emergency Medicine Program is a joint effort of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Nursing, School of Medicine (Department of Emergency Medicine), and the Center for Emergency Medicine.

Course Requirements
     Prerequisite credits: 64
     SHRS credits: 65-70
     Total credits required: 129-134

Prerequisite Courses
     Students are required to take the following prerequisite courses during their freshman and sophomore years:

	General Chemistry	8 semester credits. Courses must include labs. University of Pittsburgh students should take CHEM 0110, 0120.
	General Biology with labs	8 semester credits. University of Pittsburgh students should take BIOSC 0150 and 0160.
	Anatomy & Physiology	8 semester credits. Courses must include labs. University of Pittsburgh students should take NURS 0012/0013.
	General Psychology	3 semester credits. University of Pittsburgh students should take PSY 0010.
	Computer Science (Introductory)	3 semester credits. University of Pittsburgh students should take CS 0110/0131.
	Life Span Development	3 semester credits. University of Pittsburgh students should take PSYED 0310.
	English Composition	3 semester credits
	Ethics in Health Care	3 semester credits. University of Pittsburgh students should take NURS 1085.
	Introduction to Statistics	3 semester credits. University of Pittsburgh students should take STAT 0200 or 1000.
	Public Speaking	3 semester credits. University of Pittsburgh students should take COMMRC 0520.
	EMT with lab	4 semester credits. EM 1102.
	Pathophysiology	4 semester credits. University of Pittsburgh students should take HRS 1027.
	Introduction to Nutrition	3 semester credits. University of Pittsburgh students should take HRS 1006.
	Pharmacodynamics	3 semester credits. University of Pittsburgh or Pharmacology students should take NURS 1110 or EM 1113.
	Electives	5 semester credits. Three credits must be in psychology.

Emergency Medicine Curriculum

	Fall Term: Junior Year
	EM 1117	EMS Operations	3 cr.
	EM 1114	Medication Administration Lab	1 cr.
	EM 1111	Introduction to Out of Hospital	3 cr.
	HIM 1482	Legal Aspects of Health Care	2 cr.
	EM 1115/     1116	Patient Assessment with Lab	4 cr.
	EM 1131	Clinical 1	3 cr.
			------
		TOTAL	16 cr.
	Spring Term: Junior Year
	EM 1120/     1121	Trauma with Lab	3 cr.
	EM 1122/     1123	Cardiology/Respiratory with Lab	4 cr.
	EM 1124	Medical 1	3 cr.
	EM 1125	Medical 2	3 cr.
	EM 1132	Clinical 2	4 cr.
			------
		TOTAL	17 cr.
	Fall Term: Senior Year
	EM 1126	Medical 3/Assessment Based Management Lab	3 cr.
	EM 1133	Clinical 3	5 cr.
	EM 1150	Professional Issues in EMS 1	3 cr.
	HRS 2435	Concepts of Finance & Accounting	3 cr.
	HIM 1420	Organizational Theory & Behavior	3 cr.
			------
		TOTAL	17 cr.
	Spring Term: Senior Year
	EM 1140	Summative Field Evaluation	3 cr.
	HIM 1455/     1456	Quality Care Assess with Lab	4 cr.
	HRS 2903	Issues in Health Care	2 cr.
	EM 1151	Pre-Professional Project	3 cr.
	EM 1152	Professional Issues in EMS 2 (elective)	2 cr.
	EM 1199	EMS Independent Study (elective)	1-6 cr.
			------
		TOTAL	15-20 cr.
		TOTAL CREDITS	65-70 cr.

Emergency Medicine Course Descriptions

EM 1102 EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN AND LABORATORY

4 cr.

  Nine hours weekly, all terms
This course provides the students with the cognitive knowledge and values to develop as an emergency medical professional at the basic life support level. This course meets all of the minimum training requirements as established by the U.S. Department of Transportation in the EMT Basic National Standard Curriculum. Course provides the student with the opportunity to develop basic life support psychomotor skills.

EM 1111 INTRODUCTION TO OUT OF HOSPITAL MEDICINE      AND LABORATORY

3 cr.

  Fall and Spring Terms
This course is designed to introduce the paramedic student to topics in emergency medicine. Topics include: EMS Systems and the roles and responsibilities of the paramedic, the well being of the paramedic, and airway management. The laboratory section focuses on the development of advanced airway management skills and ventilation.

EM 1113 PHARMACOLOGY

3 cr.

  Three hours weekly, Fall and Spring Terms
This course introduces paramedic students to the categories of pharmacologic agents and the application of pharmacological concepts to clinical paramedic practice. Emphasis will be placed on understanding physiologic drug action.

EM 1114 MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION LAB

1 cr.

  Two hours weekly, Fall and Spring Terms
This laboratory section covers the psychomotor skills of medication administration. Skills include: phlebotomy, intramuscular and subcutaneous injections, intravenous cannulation, intravenous, inhaled, endotracheal, and sublingual drug administration.

EM 1115 PATIENT ASSESSMENT

3 cr.

  Three hours weekly, Fall and Spring Terms
This course will introduce the paramedic student to the process of patient assessment. Topics include: history taking, techniques of physical examination, scene size-up, initial assessment, focused history and physical examination, detailed physical examination, on-going assessment, communications, and documents.

EM 1116 PATIENT ASSESSMENT LABORATORY

1 cr.

  One hour weekly, Fall and Spring Terms
  Corequisite: EM 1115
In this laboratory students will learn the psychomotor skills of patient assessment. Skills include history taking, techniques of physical examination, and patient assessment.

EM 1117 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES OPERATIONS

3 cr.

  Three hours weekly, all terms
Students will be exposed to various field operations procedures. Topics include: medical incident command, rescue awareness and operations, hazardous materials incidents, ambulance operations, and crime scene awareness.

EM 1120 TRAUMA

3 cr.

  Three hours weekly, all terms
  Prerequisites: EM 1111, 1114, 1115, 1116, and 1131
This course introduces the paramedic student to specific pathophysiology, assessment and management techniques for trauma patients. Topics include: trauma systems/mechanism of injury, hemorrhage and shock, soft tissue trauma, burns, head and facial trauma, spinal trauma, thoracic trauma, abdominal trauma, and musculoskeletal trauma.

EM 1121 TRAUMA LABORATORY

no credit

  All terms
  Prerequisites: EM 1111, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1131; Corequisite: EM 1120
This laboratory is designed to teach students psychomotor skills of management of the trauma patient. Skills include: trauma patient assessment and airway management of the trauma patient.

EM 1122 CARDIOLOGY AND RESPIRATORY

3 cr.

  Three hours weekly, all terms
  Prerequisites: EM 1111, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1131
This course covers the specific pathophysiology assessment and management of the respiratory and cardiac systems and resuscitation.

EM 1123 CARDIOLOGY AND RESPIRATORY LABORATORY

1 cr.

  Three hours weekly, all terms
  Prerequisites: EM 1111, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1131; Corequisite: EM 1122
This course teaches psychomotor skills of the cardiac and respiratory patient. Skills include cardiac monitoring, defibrillation, cardioversion, and transthoracic pacing, cardiac emergency management, and cardiac arrest management.

EM 1124 MEDICAL 1

3 cr.

  Three hours weekly, all terms
  Prerequisites: EM 1111, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1131
This course covers specific pathophysiology assessments and management techniques for common medical conditions encountered in the field. Topics include: neurology, behavioral and psychiatric disorders, hematology, infectious and communicable diseases, anaphylaxis and allergies.

EM 1125 MEDICAL 2

3 cr.

  Three hours weekly, all terms
  Prerequisites: EM 1111, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1131
This course is a continuation of EM 1124. Topics include: gastroenterology, urology, endocrinology, toxicology, geriatrics, and acute interventions in the home care patient.

EM 1126 MEDICAL 3/ASSESSMENT-BASED MANAGEMENT LAB

3 cr.

  Three classroom hours and three lab hours weekly, all terms
  Prerequisite: EM 1132
This course introduces the paramedic student to various special circumstances encountered in out-of- hospital medicine. As a summary course, this class develops and applies the process of clinical decision making. Topics addressed include: gynecology, obstetrics, neonatology, and pediatrics. The assessment- based lab is a scenerio-based learning experience applying the process of clinical decision- making to patient care situations.

EM 1131 CLINICAL 1

3 cr.

  Eight hours weekly, all terms
  Corequisites: EM 1111, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1131
This course is designed to accompany the patient assessment, pathophysiology, and life span development courses. Clinical rotations focus on the development of history taking and patient assessment skills. Clinical rotations include: field, triage, emergency department, primary care, critical care, pediatric emergency department, morgue, and operating room.

EM 1132 CLINICAL 2

4 cr.

  Twelve hours weekly, all terms
  Prerequisites: 1111, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1131; Corequisites: EM 1120, 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124, 1125
This course is designed to accompany the cardiology and respiratory, trauma, Medical 1 and Medical 2 courses. Clinical rotations focus on the development of psychomotor skills and integrative skills. Clinical rotations include: field, emergency department, trauma critical care, anesthesia, primary care, critical care, pediatric emergency department, respiratory care, cardiology, and medical/surgery.

EM 1133 CLINICAL 3

5 cr.

  Twenty-two hours weekly (first 10 weeks of term), all terms
  Prerequisite: EM 1132; Corequisite: EM 1126
This course is designed to accompany Medical 3 and the assessment-based lab course. Clinical rotations focus on treatment of special patient populations and special clinical situations. Clinical rotations include: field, emergency department, rehabilitation, long-term care, home health care, crisis intervention, gynecology, obstetrics, neonatology, pediatrics, and gerontology.

EM 1140 SUMMATIVE FIELD EVALUATION

1-3 cr.

  Twenty-four hours (last 5 weeks of term), all terms
  Corequisite: EM 1133
The summative field evaluation determines if the student is competent to serve as an entry-level clinician. Field rotations place the student in the role of team leader for all calls and expect students to integrate history taking, physical examination, and cognitive knowledge into the total management of the patient. Comprehensive examinations evaluate the candidate's knowledge base and psychomotor skills.

EM 1150 PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN EMS 1

3 cr.

  Three hours weekly, all terms
  Prerequisite: EM 1132; Corequisite: EM 1126
This course will present all EM students with a thorough review of the most current and pertinent issues confronting the EMS industry today. Discussion and assignments will investigate critical issues which affect health care delivery, quality of service, cost of health care, manpower utilization, and the effects of various federal and state legislation on health care delivery.

EM 1151 PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROJECT

3 cr.

  Three hours weekly, all terms
  Prerequisite: EM 1132; Corequisite: EM 1126
This course will enable the student to conduct prospective research in an administrative or educational endeavor. Students will be required to develop a scholarly paper based upon research.

EM 1152 PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN EMS 2

2 cr.

  Two hours weekly, all terms
  Prerequisite: EM 1132; Corequisite: EM 1126
This course will expand on issues discussed in professional issues in EMS 1. Discussion and assignments will require students to investigate critical issues which affect health care delivery, quality of service, cost of health care, manpower utilization, and the effects of various federal and state legislation on health care delivery.

EM 1199 INDEPENDENT STUDY

1-6 cr.

  All terms
  Prerequisite: EM 1132; Corequisite: EM 1126
This offering provides students the opportunity to explore (in depth) an area of particular interest to them. It is the student's responsibility to find a faculty member willing to undertake such a tutorial.