PSA 1XA: Foundations of EMS

Course Description

This course will focus on the historical basis of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), its current practices, and future directions. (3 credits)

Prerequisites

None

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

Define the role of the 15 Components and the 14 Attributes in organizing EMS operations.
Research a current issue in EMS drawn from the 15 Components and the 14 Attributes to develop an improvement plan.
Cite 2 advantages for each of the following transport methods: basic life support, advanced life support, and airmobile transport.
Differentiate between the roles of medical control and medical oversight, referencing at least two impacts each on pre-hospital and in-hospital medical care.
Describe at least three ways that the public can access EMS in an emergency.
Identify how the universal access number (911) has fostered public access to EMS.
Describe how public information, education, and relations (PIER) has positively impacted injury prevention and treatment.
State how EMS interfaces with the Incident Command System in disaster planning and response.
Discuss the respective roles of government, private entities, and the public in funding EMS, providing one advantage and one disadvantage for each.
Compare the current roles of federal, state, and local agencies in regulating EMS.
List and describe five aspects of a strategic information plan.
Develop an improvement plan for a current issue in EMS drawn from one or more of the 15 Components and the 14 Attributes.
Develop the action steps for a current issue in EMS.

Course Activities and Grading

Assignments	Weight
Discussions [10 points] (Weeks 1-5)	30%
Discussions [5 points] (Weeks 1-5)	20%
Implementation Plan (Week 5)	40%
Implementation Plan Discussion [10 points] (Week 5)	10%
Total	100%

Required Textbooks

Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle

Walz, B. and Zigmont, J. Foundation of EMS Systems. 3^rd Edition. Jones and Bartlett Learning, 2017. ISBN-13: 9781284041781

Course Schedule

Week	SLOs	Readings and Exercises	Assignments
1	1,2,3,4,12	Topic: Historical Background Read: Walz and Zigmont, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 14	Read the assigned chapters Participate in the Discussions Submit the Week 1 – Implementation Plan Topic Begin work on the Week 5 - Implementation Plan
2	3,4	Topic: Pre-Hospital to In-Hospital Interface Read: Walz and Zigmont, Chapters 5,6,8	Read the assigned chapters Participate in the Discussions Continue to work on the Week 5 - Implementation Plan
3	5-8	Topics: System Access, Public Education, and Disasters Read: Walz and Zigmont, Chapters 7,11,12	Read the assigned chapters Participate in the Discussions Continue to work on the Week 5 - Implementation Plan
4	9-13	Topics: Funding, Regulation, and Information Systems Read: Walz and Zigmont, Chapters 9,10,13	Read the assigned chapters Participate in the Discussions Continue to work on the Week 5 - Implementation Plan
5	11-13	Topic:EMS Research: Improvement and Action There is no assigned readings this week.	Participate in the Discussions Submit the Week 5 - Implementation Plan. Complete Course Evaluation

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.