In this final semester at ACC, students take an array of classes. Most of the time dedicated to this segment is spent preparing for national registry examination; polishing and honing assessment, diagnostic, and treatment algorithms during 240 clinical hours with Austin-Travis County EMS; and sitting for certificates in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). One class is dedicated to the research of an assigned topic of a medical nature. The research is followed by an oral presentation and concludes with its compliment research paper.
Graduation from the program does not indicate that a student knows all there is to know about emergency medical intervention, but it does lend a vote of confidence that the students are ready to begin practicing emergent care and continue with the learning that they have started.
It is a special kind of person who approaches EMS with a sincere heart. ECA, Basic, Intermediate, and Paramedic level professionals realize that they constantly have to be reviewing the drugs they administer, the skills they have, and their well-being in order to remain proficient and provide the best possible quality care to those who are in need..