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Erie County Paramedic Program

About the Program

The Paramedic Program empowers interested students to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become a paramedic. Our up-to-date curriculum and unique clinical experiences will expose students to all aspects of pre-hospital medicine, making them prepared for their certification exams and ready to perform in the field. Expanding on the knowledge previously given in our EMT and AEMT programs, students will learn advanced airway management techniques, ECG monitoring and cardiac care, pharmacology and medication administration, IV therapy, and among many other skills. Our goal is for students to complete our program prepared to enter the workforce as a paramedic by possessing appropriate medical knowledge, being able to perform the skills of a paramedic, and can communicate effectively and professionally with patients, bystanders, and other health care providers. Our program also prepares our students for other careers in Allied Healthcare Professions.

paramedicsProgram Objectives

To prepare Paramedics who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.

Why Become a Paramedic

Becoming a paramedic can be a rewarding career. Here are some compelling reasons to consider pursuing this career. 

  • Save lives
  • Help others
  • Fast-paced environment
  • Diverse work settings
  • Community engagement
  • Teamwork
  • Personal growth
  • Job security
  • Emotional reward
  • Sense of duty
Program Accreditation Status

The Erie County Health Department Division of EMS Paramedic Program has a site visit scheduled for pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (www.caahep.org). This step in the process is neither a status of accreditation nor a guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

To contact CAAHEP:                                                                                          

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709 
Seminole, FL 33775 
727-210-2350 
www.caahep.org 

To contact CoAEMSP:

8301 Lakeview Parkway Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088 
214-703-8445 
FAX 214-703-8992 
www.coaemsp.org

Admission Policy

The Erie County Health Department Division of EMS Paramedic Program will not discriminate in its admission policies on the basis of sex, race, national origin, religion, or sexual preference in its admission policies.

All candidates must complete the following to be considered for entry into the program:

  • Complete a program application.
  • Submit two letters of recommendation.
  • Submit a resume.
  • Hold a high school diploma or equivalent.
  • Be currently certified as a New York State EMT or AEMT. A copy of your certification card must be submitted prior to acceptance. This certification must be maintained current throughout the course until its conclusion.
  • Score at least 80% on an EMS admission exam.
  • Score at least 70% on a math admission exam.
  • Successfully pass a skills admission exam.
  • Complete an interview with a member of the program staff.
  • Be at least 18 years of age or older.
  • Satisfy the qualifications listed in the functional job description of a Paramedic.

It is recommended that all candidates have the following qualities:

  • Be an active EMS provider for a volunteer, commercial, or municipal EMS agency.
  • Have at least 1 year working experience as an EMS provider.

Each candidate must possess certain physical and mental attributes to be able to complete the paramedic program. These attributes are as follows:

  • Communicate effectively via telephone and radio equipment.
  • Lift, carry and balance up to 125 pounds (250 pounds with assistance).
  • Interpret oral, written, and diagnostic form instructions.
  • Use good judgment and remain calm in high stress situations.
  • Be unaffected by loud noises and flashing lights.
  • Function efficiently without interruption throughout an entire work shift.
  • Calculate weight and volume ratios.
  • Read English language manuals and road maps/GPS.
  • Accurately discern street signs and addresses.
  • Interview patients, patient family members and bystanders.
  • Document, in writing, all relevant information in prescribed format, in light of legal ramifications of such.
  • Converse, in English, with coworkers and hospital staff with regard to the status of the patient.
  • Perform all tasks related to the highest quality patient care.
  • Bend, stoop, and crawl on uneven terrain.
  • Withstand varied environmental conditions such as extreme heat, cold and moisture.
  • Work in low light situations and confined space.
  • Work with other providers to make appropriate patient care decisions.
Occupational Risks

Provision of emergency medical services poses inherent occupational risks for EMS responders. Risks include the following.

  • Violence/assaults
  • Verbal threats/aggression
  • Motor vehicle crashes
  • Infectious disease
  • Lifting injuries
  • Sprains and strains
  • Psychological trauma 
  • Hazardous chemical exposure
  • Hyper/hypothermia

As a student in the program, you may be exposed to all of the risks above.

Prerequisites

Pre-Course Work

Students must complete the following courses and submit the completion certificates to the Paramedic Program Director or Program Staff prior to the start of the first day of class.

  • IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100
  • IS-200.C: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response, ICS-200
  • IS-700.B: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
  • IS-800.D: National Response Framework, An Introduction
  • IS-5.A: An Introduction to Hazardous Materials
  • AWR160: WMD/Terrorism Awareness for Emergency Responders

All ICS training can be found at the following link: https://training.fema.gov/nims/

AWR160: WMD/Terrorism Awareness for Emergency Responders can be found at the following link: https://teex.org/class/AWR160/

Health Insurance

Students should maintain private health insurance or worker’s compensation insurance throughout the Program.  Students are responsible for all payments for medical care related to exposure/ injuries/illnesses while in the program.

Professional Liability Insurance

Students are required to provide and maintain professional liability insurance coverage with claim coverage of up to one million dollars ($1,000,000) and aggregate coverage of up to three million dollars ($3,000,000). Students must have proof of insurance prior to the start of the first session and must remain active for the entire program. The cost of this insurance is the responsibility of the student. 

Physical Exam and Immunizations

Students must complete a physical exam within 1 year prior the start of class and obtain medical clearance to attend class from their primary physician. Documentation of this exam must be completed on the Erie County DOH EMS Paramedic Program Health Screening Form, which includes a verification of their vaccination history. Prior to the start of the first session, students must be vaccinated for at a minimum: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis, Hepatitis B, and Meningococcal Meningitis. Students are also recommended to be vaccinated for Coronavirus and the most current seasonal Influenza vaccine. Students must submit verification of this exam prior to the start of class. 

Tuition, Withdrawal, and Refund Schedule

Tuition and Fees Explanation

TBD

Tuition Payment

Tuition for the course is due prior to the first class session. Any student who does not submit their tuition payment or any other specified registration documents prior to the first class session will not be eligible to enroll in the course. Prices may not reflect additional costs related to the program.

Accepted forms of payment include checks and money orders. Checks and money orders should be made out to the “Erie County DOH EMS” and mailed or hand delivered to the EMS office.

State Funding - Tuition Reimbursement

Students who are a member of NYS EMS Agency at the start of the first session are eligible to receive state funding reimbursement. Students must submit Verification of Membership in a NYS EMS Agency form (DOH-3312) no later than 14 days after the first class session. Those students who do not submit a verification form within the designated time period will be considered ineligible for New York State EMS tuition reimbursement funding. Students must certify within 1(one) year of their original test date in order to be eligible for state funding/ reimbursement.

Withdrawal and Refund Schedule

Students can withdrawal from the course at any time. Withdrawals must be made in writing to the Lead Instructor. Failure to notify the Lead Instructor formally in writing will result in the student failing the course instead of withdrawing. Tuition will be refunded after withdrawing based off the following schedule.

  • Prior to the beginning of the first session there will be a full refund.
  • After the first week - 75%
  • After the second week – 50%
  • After the third week – 25%
  • After the fourth week there is no refund

**Students must be aware that reimbursement may take up to 180 days to be returned.

Articulation Agreements

Coming soon

Course Descriptions, Schedule, & Location

Coming soon

Career Standards and Outlook

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Functional Job Description of a Paramedic:

Clinical Opportunities

Coming soon

State Exam Pass Rates, Attrition/Retention, and Six Month Positive Placement Data

Coming soon

Contact

Donald Turner, MS.Ed., NRP 
Paramedic Program Director 
Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH)
Division of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 
3359 Broadway
Cheektowaga, NY 14227
Office Phone: (716) 961-6070
Cell Phone: (716) 393-0494 
Fax: (716) 858-1501 
Donald.Turner@erie.gov