Emergency Medical Technology

What can I do in emergency medical technology?

Emergency medical service (EMS) providers most often give emergency care to patients in a pre-hospital setting, but hospital and clinical opportunities are also available. They care for patients on the scene and transport them to a medical facility, if necessary. EMS providers respond to incidents as varied as automobile accidents, heart attacks, drownings, gunshot wounds and childbirth. In South Carolina there are three levels of EMT, Advanced EMT and Paramedic. Each level has a specific skill range and required educational background.

What characteristics and skills do I need to work in this field?

Successful emergency medical service providers should be able to think quickly on their feet and display grace under pressure. A strong character is also important as well as good interpersonal skills and a desire to help people. EMS providers work with individuals who are scared and in pain, so it is vital that they are caring and communicate well.

Where can I work?

EMS providers can find jobs in private ambulance services and local government, including fire, police and independent third-service rescue squad departments. They are also hired in urgent care, large factories, nuclear and power plants, and doctor’s offices and clinics. This career offers more freedom than most. You are not tied to a desk, and you do not have a supervisor standing over your shoulder. Working in the field offers a variety of scheduling opportunities with 12-hour shifts and 24-hour shifts being the most common.

What does Trident Technical College offer?

Trident Technical College offers an associate degree and three certificates at various EMS levels. The first level, EMT, focuses on assessing the patient and managing respiratory, trauma and cardiac emergencies. At the Advanced EMT level, students learn how to use advanced airway devices, intravenous fluids and some medications. The Paramedic level includes advanced anatomy, physiology and medical skills as well as work in field and clinical settings.

Accreditation

The Trident Technical College Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org

Commission on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Programs
8301 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 111-312
Rowlett, TX 75088
Phone: 241-703-8445 | Fax: 214-703-8992
coaemsp.org

The Committee on Accreditation of Education Programs for the Emergency Medical Professions (CoAEMSP) requires specific information be published for a three-year window. The Standard states:

“All programs must publish, preferably in a readily accessible place on their websites, the 3-year review-window average results of the outcomes for: National Registry (or State, as applicable) Written and Practical Exams, Retention, and Positive Placement.”

Minimum Expectations of the Program include the goal: "To prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician, and/or Emergency Medical Responder levels."

Trident Technical College’s Emergency Medical Technology Paramedic Program reports:

Cohort Year	Graduation Year	% Written Exam  Pass Rate	% Psychomotor Exam  Pass Rate	Program Retention	Positive Placement
2020	2021	100%	100%	75%	100%
2021	2022	84%	95%	88%	76%
2022	2023	87%	100%	79%	87%
2023	2024	100%	N/A	86%	89%