The Emergency Medical Science curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to enter the workforce as paramedics. Additionally, the program can provide an associate degree for individuals desiring an opportunity for career enhancement.
Request Information – Emergency Medical Services (EMS) ProgramsThe Paramedic is an allied health professional whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possesses the complex knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation. Paramedics function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight. Paramedics perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found on an ambulance. The Paramedic is a link from the scene into the health care system.
From the: National EMS Scope of Practice Model
The course of study provides the student an opportunity to acquire basic and advanced life support knowledge and skills by utilizing classroom instruction, practical laboratory sessions, hospital clinical experience, and field internships with emergency medical service agencies.
The Emergency Medical Science Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 1361 Park Street, Clearwater, FL 33756; Phone: (727) 210-2350; Fax: (727) 210-2354; www.caahep.org by the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Profession; 8301 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 111-312, Rowlett Texas 75088; www.coaemsp.org Graduates will take the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services examination. Graduates will also be eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians examination for Paramedic.
Employment opportunities include ambulance services, fire and rescue agencies, air medical services, specialty areas of hospitals, industry, educational institutions, and government agencies.
An articulation agreement between Blue Ridge Community College Emergency Medical Science Program and Western Carolina University (WCU) provides for transfer from the Emergency Medical Science program at Blue Ridge to the B.S. in Emergency Medical Science at WCU.
CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) accredited programs are required to meet outcome benchmarks each year.
Outcomes include but are not limited to North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services (NCOEMS) and National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) examinations:
2020 EMS Graduates
Number of Graduates: 6
NCOEMS Pass Rates: 6/6 = 100%
Retention Rate: 6/16 = 37.5%
Employment Data: 6/6 = 100%
2019 EMS Graduates
Number of Graduates: 5
NREMT/State Written Exam Pass Rates: 100%
Retention Rate: 71.4%
Employment Data: 80%
2018 No information to report. Program restructuring.
2017 EMS Graduates
Number of Graduates: 15
NCOEMS Pass Rates: 13/15 = 86.7%
Retention Rate: 15/19 = 78.9%
Employment Data: 13/15 = 86.7%
Students enrolling in these programs must meet specific emotional, behavioral, physical, and cognitive standards. This information is found in Technical Standards. Students qualifying for special accommodations to these standards must contact Disability Services at (828) 694-1813 for more information.
Daniel Wesley
EMS Program Director
(828) 694-1732
d.wesley@blueridge.edu
Virginia Plyler
EMS Clinical Coordinator
(828) 694-1795
v_plyler@blueridge.edu
