Emergency Medical Services

Department of Emergency Medical Services

Missouri Southern State University has played an integral part in the education of emergency medical personnel in the area. In 1974, the college offered one of the first Mobile Intensive Care Technician (MICT) training programs in the State of Missouri. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Paramedic educational program curriculum were developed from the MICT course. By 1985, the EMT and Paramedic Programs were regular course offerings. The use of the National Registry exam began with graduates in 1988.

Currently, the Missouri Southern State University Department of Emergency Medical Services offers the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course each semester (fall and spring). Graduates receive a certificate of completion and earn nine (9) hours of credit. Paramedic graduates receive a certificate of completion and earn thirty-three (33) hours of credit. All graduates are eligible to challenge state and National Registry examinations. The MSSU Department of Emergency Medical Services is an accredited Training Center for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Missouri Unit of Emergency Medical Services. The courses offered meet national standard curriculum requirements developed by the United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The School of Health Sciences, Public Safety, and Technology and the Department of Emergency Medical Services currently offer certificate programs in Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic, along with a variety of continuing education courses. Both programs meet National Curriculum standards for emergency medical education and prepare students to successfully challenge the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification exam(s). With successful completion of the program(s), graduates will be able to function as competent, entry-level EMS personnel.

Instruction is provided through a variety of means: Didactic, Skills Laboratory, Clinical Rotations, and Field Internship. Didactic sessions include lecture, discussion, and demonstration. Students gain hands-on instruction in techniques used for assessment and care of emergency medical patients in the skills laboratory. In addition, students gain invaluable practice assessing and caring for simulated patients in the state-of-the-art MSSU Simulation Center for Interdisciplinary Clinical Education. This opportunity allows students to traverse the learning process in a risk-free setting. For clinical and field internship education, the Department of Emergency Medical Services has partnered with area trauma/medical centers and Advanced Life Support ambulance services to provide real-world, hands-on experience.

Mission

The mission of the Emergency Medical Services program is to educate and graduate an EMS professional who is a competent entry-level practitioner.   The program is designed to develop and promote conceptual, technical, contextual, integrative, and adaptive competence; creating practitioners educated in all phases of professional behavior. Graduates will be prepared to enter the health professions workforce and be eligible for licensure, certification, and advanced education. Attention is focused on the need of each student for local and international service.

Goals

Goals of the Emergency Medical Services program are:

  • Provide clinically competent, entry-level practitioners.
  • Improve communication skills to enable oral and written communication with patients and other healthcare professionals.
  • Develop critical thinking and problem solving ability in the work environment.
  • Demonstrate competence in clinical practice.
  • Demonstrate personal behavior consistent with professional and employer expectations for the emergency medical service technician.
  • Demonstrate empathy for values and perspectives of diverse cultures and the desire to serve as a patient advocate.

Philosophy

In order to accomplish the program goals, it is the philosophy of the department of Emergency Medical services to provide students with a high quality educational experience that includes:

  • Didactic classes providing access to information to successfully challenge National Registry examination(s).
  • Clinical and field rotations with exposure to sufficient number and variety of patients and procedures to develop skills necessary to be successful entry-level practitioners.
  • Clinical, laboratory, and classroom situations allowing students to develop problem-solving and communication skills.
  • Service learning opportunities to develop a sense of community, empathy, and understand the importance of service-oriented thinking required for success in emergency medical service.
  • Opportunity for professional growth and development.
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