The Emergency Medical Sciences and Administration Program is a collaborative effort between the VCU School of Medicine and the College of Humanities and Sciences. The curriculum blends professional and liberal education courses and the program provides the academic qualifications needed for career advancement in emergency medical care and graduate studies in health care related programs. The program offers two concentrations — the paramedic clinical concentration and the professional studies concentration — and results in a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies.

The paramedic clinical concentration is for students interested in careers in the care of emergent, non-emergent and critical care patients in the “out of hospital” environment. The highly structured curriculum requires a 60-credit hour preparatory program administered by the University College. Details of this preparatory program can be found in the University College section of this Bulletin.

The professional studies concentration is designed for individuals who have completed the EMT-paramedic program offered through the VCU School of Medicine and individuals who have earned an Associate of Applied Science in emergency medical services-paramedic, fire science, nursing or other related programs. This program is intended for individuals who wish to gain the academic qualifications needed for career advancement in supervisory and management roles within the emergency medical care field. The program also prepares students for graduate studies in medicine and health care areas.

Academic regulations and other requirements

Progression
Any student who receives less than a C in a general education course specified by an asterisk or any EMSA major course must repeat the course with a C or better. Progression to the next level of all prerequisite clinical courses is based upon satisfactory completion of all prerequisite courses of the current year. Non-clinical courses at the next level in the paramedic major may be taken before students officially progress to that level. Appeal of all progression issues is made to the Undergraduate Admission, Policy and Progression Committee.

The clinical laboratory grading system is satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Unsatisfactory clinical application results in a grade of F for the course. A student may fail a clinical course prior to the completion of the course under certain circumstances. A student whose conduct is judged to be clinically unsafe may be dismissed at any time from a clinical unit. Unsafe clinical performance is defined as behavior that is actually or potentially injurious to patients or staff and is out of the range of ordinary student mistakes. Dismissal for the remainder of the course results in a failing grade for the course as does any failure to meet course objectives.

There are additional requirements for satisfactory progression in the EMSA program and all students are responsible for compliance with additional school policies, listed in the Emergency Medical Services and Administration Program Policy Manual, available on the program Web site at www.ctcce.vcu.edu.

Further, any student who has been convicted of a felony may be ineligible for licensure as a paramedic. Students or applicants should address any questions of this nature to a legal adviser prior to entry.

Completion of degree requirements – time limit
Once the student enrolls in the EMSA program, the degree requirements must be completed within five calendar years. A student unable to meet this requirement may be evaluated by the Undergraduate Admission, Policy and Progression Committee upon request. The student may have to meet additional requirements established during the interval since matriculation.

CPR
Students entering the Emergency Medical Services and Administration program must be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation before they begin their first clinical course prior to matriculation in the sophomore year. CPR certification must include:

One- and two-rescuer CPR.
CPR for infants, children and adults.
Rescue-breathing for choking infants, children and adults.
Students are required to show evidence of CPR certification valid to the end of academic year before the first day of class each year. Those who are not certified may not enroll in clinical courses.

TB screening
All students will have an annual TB screening for which they are required to show evidence. Students who have not had their annual screening may not enroll in clinical courses.

Hepatitis B vaccination
All students enrolled in clinical courses are required to provide evidence of completing the hepatitis B vaccination series. The first injection of the series must be received prior to matriculation into the EMSA program.

HIPAA certification training
All students must show written evidence of completion of HIPAA training from the VCU Health System on their Student Record Certification Form at the time designated by the program.

FERPA compliance in clinical areas
A student’s signature on the Student Record Certification Form authorizes the following:
“In my clinical experiences, faculty may discuss my clinical performance with my preceptor or others who supervise my clinical work, including whether my performance is satisfactory.”

Other requirements
All students must meet criteria to be eligible for certification. The program may require a criminal background check for all students. Any student who has been convicted of a crime, felony or misdemeanor, needs to contact the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services, Virginia Department of Health, Regulation and Compliance Manager, to determine if they are eligible to enroll in an EMS program.

As a condition for participation in a practicum or internship experience, students may be required, by the facility providing the experience, to disclose or allow the university to disclose, information about their health status or immunizations, academic status or achievements, licensure status and other information. Further, students may be required to undergo a criminal background check, submit to drug screening, waive their right to sue the facility, comply with regulations of the facility and other requirements.