September 18, 1996
Board Action Item
BOARD ACTION
New Program Approval: Acute Care Paramedic Diploma, Ridgewater College
BACKGROUND
This proposed 59-credit diploma program will provide an opportunity for Emergency Medical Technicians to become qualified as Paramedics. Students with past educational and/or work experience should be able to complete the program in less than one year. Classes will be scheduled on an evening and weekend calendar. The program curriculum will include specialized courses in emergency medical procedures, medications, anatomy, emergency room procedures and clinical experiences. Graduates of this program will receive knowledge and skills to prepare them to work as Certified Acute Care Paramedics. The curriculum is approved by the State of Minnesota Department of Transportation, Department of Health, and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
Existing programs are located at Century College; Wadena and East Grand Forks campuses of Northwest Technical College; South Central College and Inver Hills Community College. The related placement is excellent reflecting the high level of need for paramedics. Ridgewater College has documented a regional need for paramedics in the Hutchinson area. This program will be operated for one year and suspended in October 1997.
The campus documented that one class size group of potential students already has expressed interest in this program. All students are Emergency Medical Technicians employed in the immediate area.
The strength of this program is built upon the existing Emergency Medical Technician program. Ridgewater College currently offers more than 45% of the courses required by the program. While faculty are in place to teach existing courses and to provide student consultation, a consulting physician program director has been arranged. Hutchinson Area Health Center will be the location for the clinical portion of the program.
RECOMMENDATION
The Board of Trustees approves this request by Ridgewater College to offer a new Acute Care Paramedic diploma program.
Date of Implementation: September 1996,
with suspension: October 1997
Date of Adoption: September 18, 1996,
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