Effective: 2018-08-01

Course Description

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

General Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to introduce the novice student to the foundational aspects of advanced life support care.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisites: Current Virginia EMT and CPR certification as approved by the Virginia Office of EMS.

Course Objectives

• Identify components of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system
• Correlate valid research findings to evidence-based practice
• Identify elements of workforce safety and wellness
• Define components of EMS communication systems
• Demonstrate understanding of effective communication
• Describe legal aspects related to patient care
• Explain ethical and moral issues related to patient care

Major Topics to be Included

• EMS Systems
• History of EMS
• EMS Systems
• Roles and responsibility of EMS personnel
• Quality improvement
• Patient safety
• Research
• Overview of research principles
• Interpretation of literature
• Evidence-based practice
• Workforce Safety and Wellness
• Provider safety and wellbeing
• Standard safety precautions
• Personal protective equipment
• Stress Management
• Prevention of work-related injuries
• Lifting and moving patients
• Disease transmission
• Wellness principles
• EMS Systems Communication
• EMS communication system component
• Radio communications
• Communicating with other health care professionals
• Team communication and dynamics
• Therapeutic communications
• Medical Terminology
• Legal Issues Related to Patient Care
• Types of consent
• Refusal of care
• Aspects of confidentiality
• Advanced directives
• Tort law
• Criminal law
• Statutory responsibility
• Mandatory reporting
• Health care regulation
• Patient rights
• End of life issues
• Employment Law
• Ethical Issues Related to Patient Care
• Ethical principles
• Moral objectives
• Ethical tests of decision-making