SYLLABUS
College of Medicine
Course title and number
Term (e.g., Fall 200X)
Meeting times and location
Pre-Hospital Medicine (EMS) 805-00T
All Year, 2 or 4 weeks
As scheduled, 40 hours per week
Course Description and Prerequisites
Course Description: Clinical experience for senior medical students in pre-hospital medicine; includes
field rotations with various EMS professionals; also highlights the role of the EMS medical director in
oversight and direction of EMS agencies; student will also research EMS topics and complete
assignments related to incident command system management.
Prerequisites: MSIV Status
Instructor Information
Elective Director
Taylor Ratcliff, MD
Name
(254) 724-1068
Telephone number
tratcliff@sw.org
Email address
By appointment
Office hours
AG67, Chlapek
Education Suite, Scott
Office location
& White Memorial
Hospital and Clinic
Temple, TX 76508
Coordinator
Carla Owens
Name
(254) 724-0884
Telephone number
cjowens@sw.org
Email address
By appointment
Office hours
AG67, Chlapek
Education Suite, Scott
Office location
& White Memorial
Hospital and Clinic
Temple, TX 76508
Learning Outcomes & Objectives
COM Competency Based Learning Objectives: http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/academicaffairs/curriculum/objectives/
Principles and Guidelines for Curriculum Development:
http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/policies/pdf/curriculum-principles-guidelines.pdf
Course Objective:
Describe and understand the
different components of EMS
systems and EMS operations.
Identify the different training levels
and certifications held by EMS
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COM Competency
Based Learning
Objectives
(CBLO):
PROF6: Work
with other health
professionals in a
collaborative
fashion
PROF7:
Demonstrate an
awareness of
Taught (T)
and/or
Evaluated (E):
Taught AND
Evaluated
Taught AND
Evaluated
Evaluation:
Peer
Assessment
Exam Institutionally
Developed,
personnel and what the related
treatment implications are.
Demonstrate the ability to properly
select the most appropriate level of
EMS care (BLS, ALS or critical care)
given a patient scenario
Describe the role of the EMS medical
director as it relates to governmental
rules, EMS system design and EMS
system operation.
Identify ability and/or desire to be a
future EMS medical director and
roles for ED physicians as part of the
EMS system.
Demonstrate appropriate
interpersonal communication skills
with the various levels of clinicians
involved in EMS.
leadership roles
in medicine and
society
PC6: Recognize
common
immediately lifethreatening
conditions and
initiate therapy
PROF7:
Demonstrate an
awareness of
leadership roles
in medicine and
society
SBP5: Recognize
various
approaches to the
organization,
financing, and
delivery of health
care
ICS3:
Communicate
effectively with
patients, patients'
family members,
peers, and other
members of the
health care team
Written/
Computerbased
Taught AND
Evaluated
Taught AND
Evaluated
Peer
Assessment
Exam Institutionally
Developed,
Written/
Computerbased
Taught AND
Evaluated
SelfAssessment
Taught AND
Evaluated
Multisource
Assessment
(360 eval)
Textbook and/or Resource Material
Grading Policies
Assigned EMS rotations, completion
Self-study assignments (media, etc.)
Problem based learning
Final written exam
50%
30%
10%
10%
100%
Pass
Fail
GRADING SCALE
70% and above
69.4% and below
Attendance and Make-up Policies
The student is expected to spend 40 hours per week on rotation activities for the duration of the elective.
Daily requirements will vary depending on scheduling and non-traditional hours may be available upon
request. The cumulative hour total will include time spent on clinical rotations, reading assignments and
research. Students are expected to attend all scheduled and assigned rotations and activities and
engage themselves based on these hour requirements. Make-up opportunities may be arranged through
Date Created/Revised: _10/15_ By: TKR_
the elective director. All attendance and make-up policies will be in accordance with the COM policies
and the Student Handbook. http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule07.
Course Topics, Calendar of Activities, Major Assignment Dates
As described above, rotations are scheduled as the student begins the rotation. Dates and times are
flexible as long as the student averages 40 hours per week total. There are several media and reading
assignments that are not due until the end of the rotation. All items are subject to change, this list is not
all-inclusive.
Week
1-4
1-4
1-4
1-4
Topic
ICS 100
FEMA Handbook
PBL
Media Assignments
Required Reading
FEMA ICS online module
FEMA Medical Director’s Handbook
Two EMS related PBL assignments
None
Communications Center – Students will spend a 4 hour shift in a dispatch center, either for Scott &
White EMS (known as “Med Comm.”) or the Bell County Communications Center. Learners should see
and listen to the process for taking 911 emergency calls and selection of appropriate units for
emergency response.
Field EMS Response – Students will spend shifts with emergency and non-emergency EMS crews. This
will typically include 911 responses for various types of emergency calls and also some inter-facility
transfers. The number and length of shifts is variable depending on scheduling and rotation length.
EMS Medical Director Shifts – Ride along and teaching opportunities with one of the Baylor Scott &
White EMS Physicians. This may include attendance of run reviews, attending 911 calls, administrative
sessions and other duties. Students should complete at least one (1) four hour ride along with an EMS
physician.
Attend EMS Lectures – EMS related teaching by faculty and residents. This will be variable based on
rotation dates.
Self-Directed Learning and Media – Students will spend time reading selected text and reading peerreviewed EMS literature and do a media assignment based on EMS historical knowledge.
Enrichment Opportunities (Optional) – Students MAY partake in ride-along opportunities with helicopter
EMS, fire department, law enforcement or other services as arranged. Different experiences can be
arranged based on interest. This can include involvement in ongoing pre-hospital community services
such as disaster team planning meetings, community medicine events, etc. (seasonal, variable)
Other Pertinent Course Information
Students MUST schedule a meeting with Dr. Ratcliff before beginning clinical rotations. This can be
done through Ms. Owens or you may contact Dr. Ratcliff directly by E-mail before beginning your
rotation.
Students will be required to complete and turn in a patient log in addition to an activity log. Copies of
these will be provided to the student electronically upon beginning the rotation, along with an activity
checklist.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides
comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation
requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for
reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an
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accommodation, please contact Disability Services, in Cain Hall, Room B118, or call 845-1637. For
additional information visit http://disability.tamu.edu
Any student with a disability who needs accommodation should inform the instructor at the beginning of
the course.
Academic Integrity
For additional information please visit: http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu
“An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do.”
College of Medicine
Professionalism and integrity Statement (Academic Honesty and Plagiarism)
All College of Medicine students are required to comply with the student code of conduct and the academic integrity and
honesty standards published in each component’s Student Handbook. Disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with
the policies of each component. Students found guilty of Academic Dishonesty will receive an “F”/Unsatisfactory in the
course. For a full list of actions qualifying as academic dishonesty, please review the College of Medicine Student
Handbook at http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/student-affairs/docs/handbook.pdf.
According to the Aggie Honor System Office, plagiarism is defined as the appropriation of another person's ideas,
processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit. Intentionally, knowingly, or carelessly presenting the work of
another as one’s own (i.e., without crediting the author or creator). Plagiarism and other academic misconduct definitions
can be viewed on the Aggie Honor System Office website;
http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu/RulesAndProcedures/HonorSystemRules.aspx#definitions.
E-mail Access and FERPA
The College of Medicine is communicating all official information to students through the students’ TAMHSC e-mail
accounts. Please check the account frequently during the semester for updates.
This course is supported with web-based and/or e-mail activities. In order to take advantage of these additional resources
and participate fully in the course, you have been assigned an e-mail address by the Texas A&M Health Science Center.
This e-mail address is for internal use only, so that faculty may communicate with you and the entire class. By registering
for this course, you are agreeing to allow your classmates to have access to this e-mail address. Should you have any
questions, please contact the TAMU’s Office of the Registrar at 979-845-1031.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which the HSC complies fully, is intended to protect the
privacy of education records, to establish the rights of students to inspect and review their education records and to
provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also
have the right to file complaints with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office of the Department of Education
in Washington, D.C., concerning alleged failures by the HSC to comply with the act.
Mistreatment of Students
The College of Medicine is committed to providing a positive learning environment in which students can meet their
academic goals based on mutual respect in the teacher/learner relationship. Both parties must be sensitive to the needs
of others and differences in gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability. As outlined in the Student
Handbook under the section titled Standards of Conduct in the Teacher-Learner Relationship, belittlement, intimidation
and humiliation are unacceptable for effective learning and undermine self-esteem. Breaches involving student
mistreatment may result in a faculty or staff member being sanctioned or the loss of faculty and/or staff appointment.
These policies address student mistreatment involving College of Medicine employees, residents, affiliate staff, or
patients. Mistreatment may be reported through the College of Medicine telephone hotline, 1(855)-397-9835 or through
an online form at http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/current/student-mistreatment-form.html. For a full list of reporting avenues,
please refer to the Student Handbook under the Mistreatment Policy.
Exposure and Occupational Hazard
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The Needle Stick Policy and Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure information for Medical Students may be accessed in the
Student Handbook at: http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/student-affairs/docs/handbook.pdf
Note: More information is available on the aforementioned topics to all students on the College of Medicine website.
Date Created/Revised: _10/15_ By: TKR_