EMS Education: 2008 Basic & Refresher Level Courses

General Information
The HCMC EMS Education staff are a talented multidisciplinary team of experienced healthcare providers. The teaching staff include experienced EMS paramedics, nursing personnel, and HCMC physicians, working together to provide you with current information in a low stress manner that creates an enjoyable learning experience.

The comments listed below, reflect the thoughts of students that recently attended courses with us:

Courses are held in the Hennepin County Medical Center EMS Education classrooms, located on level one of the HCMC parking ramp facility at 600 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN (exceptions noted).

Jim Blanchard EMS Scholarship Award
The HCMC EMS Education Department wishes to honor the memory of Paramedic Jim Blanchard for his many contributions to the EMS community by offering the “Jim Blanchard EMS Scholarship Award.” The award is designed to assist the student seeking to learn more about the EMS profession by attending an Emergency Medical Technician Basic Course or the First Responder Course.
Information and application form (pdf)

Emergency Medical Technician - Basic Course (EMT)
The EMT-Basic course is designed to train individuals to provide comprehensive emergency medical care at the basic life support level to victims of illness or injury. The course is an intensive three weeks of classroom, skills session, and clinical time. Upon completion of the course, students are able to assess and appropriately treat conditions ranging from simple fractures, stroke, and chest pain to critical trauma, cardiac arrest, and childbirth. The specific skills learned are: patient assessment, airway management techniques, vital signs, cardiac arrest management, automated defibrillator, and trauma management skills, which include cervical spine stabilization, back boarding, management of bleeding and shock, and splinting techniques. Certification as an EMT requires the successful completion of a national standard written and practical exam. On completion of the course, students are prepared to function on a basic life support ambulance service. The course meets Monday through Friday and hours are generally 8 am to 5 pm. In addition, 8 hours of clinical time working with HCMC EMS paramedics are scheduled during the three week course.

Employment opportunities for Emergency Medical Technicians include serving as a first responder as a member of a police, fire, or rescue squad. Also, partnering with a paramedic to provide "911" emergency advanced life support service. EMT's staff basic life support ambulances to provide scheduled basic life support transportation. In addition, EMT's are employed in the Emergency Department of several area hospitals, including HCMC.

Emergency Medical Technician certification is a pre-requisite to apply to paramedic programs. Another common pre-requisite is a minimum number of patient care contacts. One method of accomplishing this clinical experience is to enroll in an EMS clinical. Area community and technical colleges provide these courses.

Textbook: "Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured" 9th edition by Jones and Bartlett.

Emergency Medical Technician - Basic Course (EMT-Basic)
2008 Course Dates:	Course Fee:	Cancellation Fee:
March 17 - April 4 FULL - wait list *September 22 - October 10 click here to visit South Metro Public Safety Training Facility website to register and more information. October 13 - October 31 *ETC - Edina Training Center	$1180.00	$250.00
Textbook Fee:	$85.00

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EMT-Refresher Course (EMT-R)
The 24-hour EMT-Refresher course is a review of the skills and knowledge covered in the EMT-Basic course. Attendance in an EMT-Refresher course and successful completion of practical testing every two years is required by the state to maintain EMT certification. In addition to reviewing core curriculum, EMS Education has used the EMT-Refresher course as a vehicle to inform participants of changes in emergency care such as new equipment, current research, or issues of general concern to EMS providers. The course is scheduled for three consecutive days and the hours are generally 8 am to 5 pm.