Professional Development

Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic Technology
Continuing Education Series

Northeastern University's Institute for Emergency Medical Services, is based in Burlington, 15 miles northwest of Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

The institute has a world-wide reputation as a premier provider of pre-hospital emergency medical services education. In the last 25 years, the Institute has trained over 45,000 emergency medical professionals in hundreds of programs from the basic to most advanced levels.

We offer a series of EMS Continuing Education programs:

12 Lead EKGs (EMS 5161) - 6 contact hours
Interpretation of 12-lead EKGs through the identification of characteristic changes associated with injury, ischemia and/or infarction. Participants should have prior knowledge of basic EKG interpretation.

CPR/Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (EMS 5175) - 6.5 contact hours
This course will provide the student the theory and practice to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on infants, children, and adults. Other topics covered include heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrest, and foreign body airway obstruction. After successful completion of the course participants will receive an American Heart Association BLS for HCP certification card. Healthcare providers or anyone who is interested in learning CPR are welcomed. Students must purchase "BLS for Healthcare Providers" prior to the course. (ISBN 0874934613)

Abuse and Neglect (EMS 5198) - 6 contact hours
This course will address types of patient abuse and neglect. It will focus on the personality traits of those who abuse, as well as legal considerations in providing emergency care.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Provider (EMS 5132) - 12 contact hours
This course combines lectures, skill laboratories, written and practical examinations to provide in-depth training in Advanced Cardiac Life Support for cardiac emergencies according to the American Heart Association standards.

Participants should have current Basic CPR certification issued by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. Enclose a copy of your current BCLS CPR card (both sides) with your application. This course is NOT recommended for EMT-Basics.

Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS) (EMS 5205) - 18 contact hours
AMLS is a new program developed by the National Association of EMTs (NAEMT) which provides paramedics with a practical approach to assessing and treating adult medical emergencies. The program moves from assessment procedures to field diagnosis and management of treatable causes by offering realistic methods practiced by experienced ALS level emergency medical providers.

Behavioral Emergencies  - 3 contact hours
This course teaches the participant how to identify the different types of emotional disorders and their characteristics. Management of the psychiatric patient and methods of restraint in crisis intervention are explained.

Chest Decompression and Cricothyroidotomy (EMS 5163) - 3 contact hours
This course is designed to teach Paramedics the cognitive and psychomotor skills of chest decompression and needle cricothyroidotomy. Anatomy and physiology, indications and complications will be addressed. A practicum is included.

EMT-Basic Refresher Course (EMS 5143)
This 24 hour 1994 D.O.T. (Revised Curriculum) Basic level EMT refresher course is designed to meet the biennial refresher training requirements of the Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Geriatric Emergency Medical Services (GEMS) (EMS 5204) - 12 contact hours
The GEMS course is designed to enable EMS professionals to better access and provide state-of-the-art care to the elderly. Topics include physiological and psychological aspects of aging; communicating effectively with the elderly; geriatric pharmacology; assessment; trauma; musculoskeletal and orthopedic injuries; respiratory, cardiac, neurological, and psychiatric emergencies; toxicology; elder abuse and neglect and end of life issues.

Infectious Diseases (EMS 5149) - 3 contact hours
The immune system, infectious vs. communicable diseases and the risks associated with occupational exposure to Hepatitis B; HIV; TB and other infectious diseases

Mass Casualty Incident (EMS 5156) - 6 contact hours
This course assists the participant in identifying the capabilities and limitations of an EMS system in the face of a mass casualty incident or disaster. Identification of resources, triage, equipment and personnel are covered in detail.

Medical Emergencies (EMS 5191) - 18 contact hours
This course describes the pre-hospital assessment and management of medical emergencies. Topic of discussion include endocrine problems including Diabetes Mellitus, the causes of abdominal pain, dialysis, toxicological emergencies, bites, stings, substance abuse, poisonings, environmental emergencies, and anaphylaxis.

Neurological Emergencies (EMS 5136) - 6 contact hours
Anatomy and physiology, patient assessment, pathophysiology and management of CNS problems, including trauma to the head, neck and spinal column, coma, seizures and stroke.

OB/GYN Emergencies (EMS 5194) - 6 contact hours
This course provides the information that allows the pre-hospital healthcare provider to recognize and intervene appropriately in abnormal deliveries and OB emergencies. The class will also include a description of the anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system and the etiology and emergency care measures for common problems associated with the system.

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Provider (EMS 5139) - 13.75 contact hours
The PALS course has been developed for pediatricians, emergency physicians, nurses, house staff and paramedics who seek to develop the cognitive and psychomotor skills necessary for resuscitation of the infant and child.

Paramedics receive 14 continuing education hours

Participants must have current Basic CPR certification issued by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. Enclose a copy of your current BCLS CPR card (both sides) with your registration.

Pediatric Education for Pre-Hospital Professionals - PEPP (EMS 5195) - 12 contact hours
This course is designed to enhance the pre-hospital provider's knowledge of pediatric emergencies including trauma and medical emergencies. This course includes aspects of injury and illness prevention, developmental stages, common pediatric illness and care and treatment of special needs pediatric patients.  

Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support - PHTLS (EMS 5190) - 16 contact hours
This course brings the care of the trauma patient into a single focus that treats the multi-system trauma patient as a unique entity with specific needs. The course focuses on the mechanism of injury, injury patterns and underlying injuries the trauma patient sustains. Through lectures, class interaction and hands-on stations, the student learns the unique aspects of trauma patient care, assessment and interventions.

Rapid Sequence Induction (EMS 5192) - 3 contact hours
This course will begin with a description of the anatomy & physiology of the respiratory system and continue with a discussion of the pharmacological agents, indications and contraindications of Rapid Sequence Induction.

Weapons of Mass Destruction Response Awareness (EMS 5197) - 6 contact hours
This course will focus on the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms of exposure to the toxic substances used in chemical warfare. The pre-hospital response will be outlined which includes evaluation of the scene, the protective equipment needed, decontamination procedures, and medications used to counteract agents used in chemical warfare.