Diploma in Emergency Medical Science (Dip EMS)
Course Aims
The Diploma in Emergency Medical Science (Paramedic Programme) is run jointly by HSE National Ambulance Service College and the School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin.
The goal of the Dip EMS (Paramedic) course is to provide the level of education and training necessary for modern emergency medical care providers to become safe, competent and effective practitioners in the pre-hospital environment.
This course develops a sound theoretical base to support the student’s competencies in clinical decision making, patient assessment, clinical care and professional practice.
The course also serves as a foundation for further professional study:
- Graduate Diploma in EMS
- MSc (Advanced Paramedic)
- MSc (immediate Care)
Course Structure
The programme duration is two years. Its broad structure includes:
Year 1: Distance learning / classroom learning and clinical placements
Year 2: Internship
Year 1 will introduce the fundamentals of recognition and
management of healthcare emergencies, to include:
- Introduction to the anatomy and physiology of the major body systems
- Recognition of illnesses and injuries that affect those systems
- Assessment and management of a range of illnesses and injuries
- Common medical conditions encountered in paramedic practice
- Key features of paediatric and maternity emergencies
- Meeting the needs of patients with specific health problems such as mental health issues or disabilities
In summary, Year 1 provides the core knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to manage medical and trauma emergencies in both adults and children in the pre-hospital phase of care.
Year 2 will include clinical placements which involve the supervised
delivery of pre-hospital emergency care, including:
- Assessment and management of trauma
- Approach to and management of hazards encountered in the pre-hospital environment
- A range of emergency and non-emergency patient care assessments and interventions under supervision
- Completion of professional functions of a Paramedic Practitioner
- Safe and competent use of relevant PHECC Clinical Practice Guidelines (www.phecc.ie)
Successful completion of Years 1 and 2 will lead to the award of Diploma in Emergency Medical Science
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
- Demonstrate primary and secondary patient assessments in common illness and injury situations
- Conduct structured patient assessments in a range of settings, including basic examination techniques
- Conduct primary and secondary patient assessments in common illness and injury situations, with special reference to children, the elderly and those with disabilities
- Identify and implement appropriate patient handling and transportation strategies
- Safely and effectively administer and monitor appropriate medicines
- Be familiar with relevant PHECC Clinical Practice Guidelines
Applying Knowledge
- Competence in the wide range of skills relevant to pre-hospital emergency care
- Integrating clinical assessments with available treatment options to select the appropriate care strategy
- Ensuring that the highest ethical and professional standards are maintained
- Collecting accurate data for continuous personal and service audit purposes
- Ensuring that patient care is at all times the primary objective of the service provider
- Develop corrective action plans to minimise or eliminate risks occurring the pre-hospital environment
Judgements
- Clinical assessment of a wide range of conditions encountered in an urgent care setting
- Initial decision making on every problem presented
- Effective use of patient records and service information systems
- Demonstrate professionalism at all times
Communications
- Ability to work competently under pressure
- Excellent teamwork, record-keeping and communications skills
- Working in unfamiliar settings and groups
- Interaction with other healthcare agencies and emergency services
- Knowledge of the range of inter-facility transfers in use
Learning
- Commitment to Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
- Principles of clinical audit
- Principles of literature searches and review
- Integrating new science and healthcare developments to the field
Assessment
Year 1 will involve
continuous and end of module assessments – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Short
Answer Questions (SAQs), Objective
Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and project components
Year 2 assessment will include supervised clinical practice, portfolio and final panel exam components
Admission Criteria
Applicants must be in possession of a minimum of five passes in the Leaving Certificate examination (or EU academic equivalent) including Mathematics and a science subject (i.e. Physics, Chemistry or Biology).
How to apply
Access to the DipEMS is available only by direct application
to the HSE (
www.hse.ie
) in response to advertisements
online.
Inquiries
www.ucd.ie/genpract | cics@ucd.ie | 01 716 6665 / 01 716 6666