MetroAtlanta EMS Academy Paramedic Clinical GUIDELINES AND POLICY MANUAL June, 2014 Anne Austin Ellerbee, Paramedic Program Instructor
Paramedic Clinical Guidelines & Policy Manual Index 1.0 Reporting for Clinical.1 2.0 Appearance..2 3.0 Conduct 3 4.0 Absences/Tardies 3 5.0 Infection Control.4 6.0 Scope of Practice.4 7.0 Clinical Paperwork.5 8.0 Clinical not Scheduled by school 6 9.0 Clinical Schedule.6 10.0 Problems at Clinical Facility..7 11.0 Meals 7 12.0 Consequences of Violation.8
A copy of this manual is distributed to every student enrolled in the Paramedic program, members of the faculty, program medical director, clinical instructors, members of the Advisory Committee, and appropriate sponsoring institution administrators. Each section syllabus is considered an extension and elaboration of this policy manual and may supersede policies in this manual, if applicable. Each student shall acknowledge receipt of the above mentioned policy manual as well as intent to comply with all program policies though their signature on an agreement form. These agreement forms are filed in the program faculty office. The signatures below indicate support and agreement of the policies contained in this document. Lisa Burkinbine, Program Director Anne Austin Ellerbee, Program Instructor Julio Lairet, M.D., Program Medical Director
CLINICAL GUIDELINES AND POLICIES MANUAL 1.0 Reporting for clinical 1.1 Students are expected to arrive at their clinical locations (15) fifteen minutes before their scheduled reporting time. This allows the clinical facility time to handle any paperwork or other administrative functions necessary before assigning the student to a unit, and also gives the student a brief period to orient themselves to the facility. 1.2 Students will report to the appropriate person at each clinical facility as soon as they arrive, and will wait for instructions concerning assignment. Preceptors will meet with the students in the Hospital ED, unless otherwise directed, before going to their assigned areas for the day. Hospital/EMS Field facilities currently utilized by MetroAtlanta EMS Academy: Cartersville Medical Center MetroAtlanta EMS Service 1.3 Students are required to have a stethoscope, penlight, scissors, pen and small notebook when reporting for clinical. 1.4 Students are required to have their clinical notebooks and documentation with them when reporting for clinical.
2.0 Appearance Page 2 2.1 The appropriate clothing for Academy personnel in clinical rotations will be as follows: Shirt- A polo-style shirt will be ordered for the student with the MetroAtlanta EMS Academy logo sewn onto the front of the shirt. Pants- Dark blue or black colors only. BDUs will be acceptable only if they are neat and do not appear to be excessively worn. Blue jeans or scrubs are not permitted. Shoes- Black leather shoes or boots. It is recommended that the student wear a thick-soled shoe with adequate protection. Due to the nature of some departments, casual shoes may be worn in the ED/OR. Belt- Black only Hats- Ball-cap, black or dark blue only. No insignias outside of MAAS will be permitted on the hat. No hats will be worn indoors while in the hospital rotations. Coats/Jackets- Dark blue or black only. Uniform shirts representing MetroAtlanta EMS Academy may not be worn except during official class activities. 2.3 A Student photo/id tag will be provided by the Academy and must be worn at all times when assigned to a clinical facility. 2.4 Students will arrive for clinical looking neat, clean and professional in appearance. Good hygiene is mandatory. 2.5 Make-up, if worn, is to be kept at a minimum. Nail polish should be of a clear or neutral tone. Acrylic nails are not allowed. 2.6 Hair is to be neatly trimmed, and if worn long, pulled back so as to be off of the collar and out of the face. Approved facial hair will be neatly trimmed. 2.7 Jewelry is permitted, however, no necklaces or chains should be visible on the outside of the clothing. Earrings should not extend more than ¼ below the earlobe. Bracelets and rings should be kept at a minimum due to the potential for injury or loss. Nose rings will not be allowed.
Page 3 3.0 Conduct 3.1 Students are to be on their best behavior at all clinical facilities. Students are expected to act professional at all times while in contact with patients, family members, other allied health professionals, and the general public. 3.2 Students will have a cooperative and accommodating attitude during their interactions a clinical facilities, and will remember that they are there to learn from the experiences of the professionals they are working with. 3.3 Student should present an attitude of eagerness and willingness to learn, rather than one of merely being an observer. 3.4 Students are under the responsibility of their clinical preceptors, and the officers or supervisors of the respective clinical facilities. Students will adhere to facility policies and procedures at all times. 4.0 Absences/Tardies 4.1 Students are encouraged not to be absent or tardy for clinical. These will count as missed or late class days per the student contract. 4.2 If a student has to be absent or tardy, they must contact the lead instructor at least (1) one hour prior to the beginning of the clinical rotation. 4.3 (3) Three tardies will require the student to complete an extra clinical rotation at a facility chosen at the discretion of the lead instructor. 4.4 Each missed day of clinical will require the student to make up the missed rotations, and an additional rotation scheduled at the lead instructor s discretion. Clinicals not be made up before the end of the program will result in an incomplete and may prevent the student from completing the Paramedic Program as scheduled. 4.5 Once a clinical rotation is scheduled, the student is responsible for working that rotation, even of the minimum number of rotations and/or skill sets have already been completed. 4.6 Students are not authorized to leave a clinical facility early except under circumstances of sickness or family emergency. If a student wishes to leave clinical early, it must first be cleared through the appropriate officer or supervisor, and the lead instructor must be contacted. Leaving early will constitute a tardy, or absence, at the discretion of the instructor. 7
Page 4 5.0 Infection Control 5.1 Students are expected and required to follow acceptable infection control guidelines when in contact with a patient. Personal protective equipment and universal precautions are to be utilized whenever possible to prevent or minimize exposure to blood, body fluids, or airborne particles. 5.2 If a serious exposure involving a student occurs, the clinical preceptor and the appropriate officer or supervisor should be notified as soon as possible, in order to become involved in the decision-making regarding follow-up and to ensure that the appropriate documentation is complete. The lead instructor will also be notified as soon as possible. 6.0 Scope of Practice 6.1 Students are expected to observe all aspects of emergency care while on clinical rotation. 6.2 Students may assist with or perform any or all of the skills within their level of training while in clinical. This privilege will be at the discretion of the individual clinical preceptors. Students must show an eagerness and willingness to participate. 6.3 Students are not permitted at any time to perform a skill outside or beyond their level of training. You MAY NOT perform an advanced procedure until you have been checked off on that particular procedure in the classroom. 7.0 Clinical Paperwork 7.1 Students are responsible for keeping up with all the required documents for clinical. A clinical notebook will be provided for this purpose. 7.2 Lost clinical paperwork may result in additional clinical rotations for the student. 7.3 A clinical evaluation form must be completed for each clinical rotation worked, including extra or individually scheduled rotations. Each evaluation sheet counts as a major test grade.
Page 5 7.0 Clinical Paperwork 7.4 The following are potential locations to meet the minimum clinical hours: * OR * ER/ED * Pediatrics * Psychiatric * Labor/Delivery * EMS * ICU * Doctor s office/clinic 7.5 Each student must document a minimum of (300) three hundred hours of pre-hospital/hospital EMS clinicals on the appropriate evaluation forms. An additional 48 hours of Field Intership hours will also be completed. 7.6 Each student must document certain patient procedures while in clinicals. The following is a summary of the required procedures, and the minimal number required for each area. For each situation, the student must perform a comprehensive patient assessment, formulate and implement a treatment plan for the following: 10 Pediatric patients 20 Adult patients 10 Geriatric patients 5 Patients with abdominal complaints 10 Patients with altered mental status 5 OB/GYN patients 20 Trauma patients 5 Psychiatric patients 5 Patients experiencing chest pain 5 Patients experiencing dyspnea/respiratory distress
7.6 Clinical Requirements, cont. Page 6 Team leader for at least 20 prehospital emergency responses 25 successful IV attempts 25 medication administrations 5 live intubations 7.7 Failure to adequately complete the appropriate clinical documentation may result in the student receiving an incomplete for the course. 7.8 In the event a student is not able to meet the minimal patient encounters, skill sets or mandatory hour requirements as noted above, additional clinical time will be scheduled to satisfy the requirements. Once a student has been scheduled for a clinical rotation, they must complete the total scheduled hours even if they have met the deficiencies before the end of the rotation. 7.9 Students will not be able to participate in final evaluations or licensing exams until proof of clinical compliance has been submitted for review by the clinical coordinator of the program. 8.0 Clinical Not Scheduled by MetroAtlanta EMS Academy 8.1 Students are not permitted to work clinical rotations with services and facilities other than those arranged by The Academy. 9.0 Clinical Schedule 9.1 The clinical schedule will be composed by the Clinical Coordinator of the course. 9.2 Clinical dates will be scheduled according to the times available at a given clinical facility. Some flexibility may be provided during the scheduling process to meet the needs of the individual students. 9.3 A clinical slot may be exchanged for any other open slot as long as the schedule is open. 9.4 Once the schedule is finalized and closed, students are committed to the dates and times. 9.5 Students will be permitted to swap clinical slots on an individual basis, at the discretion of the instructor, after the schedule is closed. Both students involved must be willing and agree to the swap.
Page 7 9.0 Clinical Schedule, continued 9.6 Clinical facilities will be chosen based on their willingness to allow our students access, the quality of experiences they can provide, their call/patient volume, and their convenience. Our primary facilities remain those listed in section 1 of these guidelines. 10.0 Problems at Clinical Facilities 10.1 Any problems arising during clinical, including personal conflicts with preceptors or supervisors, should be handled in the utmost professional manner. Remember that MetroAtlanta EMS Academy students are guests at the clinical facilities, and should present non-conflicting attitudes whenever possible. 10.2 The student should notify the Clinical Coordinator, as soon as possible, concerning any problems encountered during a clinical rotation. 10.3 If a problem arises during clinical requiring a follow-up or complaint to be made. it will be the responsibility of the Clinical Coordinator to handle the situation in the most appropriate manner. 10.4 The goal of this program is to provide the student with quality, enriching clinical experiences. Our clinical facilities support us in this goal. To this end, it is important for the student to make note of exceptional clinical experiences or preceptors. Personnel who do an outstanding job should be noted and brought to the attention of the Clinical Coordinator. It will be his/her responsibility to provide positive feedback to the appropriate clinical supervisor or officer. 11.0 Meals 11.1 Meals are to be taken with your clinical preceptors, or assigned personnel at the hospital. 11.2 Students are not permitted to leave the clinical facility for meals except when working a clinical rotation on the EMS unit. 11.3 Due to the nature of the profession, meal breaks cannot be guaranteed during any clinical rotation. Every effort will be made for the students to have time to eat if they wish to. 11.4 Meal breaks are to be no longer than the normal times allotted for hospital/ems personnel.
12.0 Consequences of Violations Page 8 12.1 Students who demonstrate unacceptable behavior or major performance problems may be asked to leave clinical at any time by the officers or supervisors of the clinical facilities. 12.2 Violation or disregard for these policies and guidelines may result in a written counseling and/or probation for the student. Extreme situations, or intentional and willful misconduct may result in the student being dropped from the program per the student program handbook. 12.3 Failure to adequately complete all the clinical requirements set forth in these guidelines will result in the student receiving an incomplete for the course involved. The student will not be able to continue in the program until requirements are met and the incomplete is removed.