Effective: 2024-01-01

Course Description

The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.

General Course Purpose

The purpose of the course is to introduce the student to the pathophysiology, signs, symptoms, and treatments of medical emergencies.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisite: Current Virginia EMT and CPR certification as approved by the Virginia Office of EMS. Corequisite: EMS 184: Advanced Medical Care Laboratory

Course Objectives

• Integrate assessment findings with principles of epidemiology and pathophysiology, including age-related assessment and treatment modifications for pediatric and geriatric patients
• Formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for a patient with various medical disorders, including:
• Abdominal and gastrointestinal disorders:
• Acute and chronic gastrointestinal hemorrhage
• Cardiovascular disorders:
• Acute Coronary Syndrome
• Hypertensive Emergencies
• Aortic aneurysm/dissection
• Thromboembolism
• Heart Failure
• Disorders of the eyes, ears, nose, and throat:
• Epistaxis
• Post-surgical oropharyngeal hemorrhage
• Endocrine Disorders:
• Diabetic emergencies
• Genitourinary/Renal Disorders:
• Complications related to renal dialysis
• Complications related to urinary catheter management
• Kidney Stones
• Sexual Assault
• Hematologic Disorders:
• Sickle Cell Crisis
• Clotting Disorders
• Immunologic Disorders:
• Allergic and anaphylactic reactions
• Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)
• Assessment and management of patients who may have infectious diseases (as well as decontamination procedures for the ambulance and equipment):
• Sepsis and septic shock
• HIV
• Hepatitis B
• Antibiotic Resistance
• Current infectious diseases prevalent in the community
• Vaccine-preventable diseases
• Neurologic Disorders:
• Altered Level of Consciousness
• Seizure
• Stroke
• Dementia vs Delirium
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Headache
• Brief Resolved Unexplained Event (BRUE)
• Parkinson's Disease
• Non-Traumatic Musculoskeletal Disorders:
• Non-traumatic fractures
• Psychiatric or Behavioral Emergencies:
• Basic principles of mental health
• Patterns of violence, abuse, and neglect
• Acute psychosis
• Suicidal ideations
• Excited Delirium
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Medical Fear
• Substance use disorder/addictive behaviors
• PTSD
• Toxicology:
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Nerve agent poisoning
• Opioid toxicity
• Alcohol intoxication and withdrawal
• Poisons (inhaled, ingested, injected, absorbed)
• Apply knowledge of growth, development, and aging and assessment findings to provide basic and selected advanced emergency care and transportation for a patient with special needs, including:
• Gynecologic Disorders:
• Vaginal bleeding
• Vaginal infections
• Obstetrics (knowledge of normal pregnancy changes, anatomy and physiology, assessment of the pregnant patient):
• Normal delivery
• Vaginal bleeding in the pregnant patient and third trimester and antepartum bleeding (placenta previa, placental abruption)
• Abnormal delivery- nuchal cord, prolapsed cord, breech, shoulder dystocia, prematurity, multiparity
• Spontaneous abortion/ miscarriage
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Preeclampsia/eclampsia
• Postpartum complications
• Newborn/Neonatal Care:
• Newborn stabilization
• Neonatal resuscitation
• Patients with Special Challenges:
• Recognizing and reporting abuse and neglect
• Abuse/ Intimate partner violence
• Neglect
• Child/ Dependent adult maltreatment
• Homelessness
• Poverty
• Bariatrics
• Technology- dependent patients
• Hospice and the terminally ill
• Tracheostomy care/ dysfunction
• Homecare
• Sensory deficit/ loss
• Developmental disability
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Orthotics/ prosthetics