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Clinical Participation Requirements

Paramedics rushing patient into ambulance

The Emergency Medicine program has access to some of the best EMS agencies and world-renowned clinical facilities in Western Pennsylvania. The clinical and field experiences combine the academic rigor of the classroom with real-world, hands-on patient care opportunities. Students complete a minimum of 544 hours at EMS agencies and hospitals throughout our region.

Clinical experiences are concurrent with didactic and laboratory sessions, allowing for the immediate application of information obtained in the classroom and laboratory exercises. Students perform physical examinations and assess patient medical histories and formulate and carry out treatment plans and skills under the direct supervision of preceptors.

Students complete a minimum of 544 hours in over 70 clinical rotations over a two-semester, three-phase curriculum. Students average 24 hours per week of clinical and field exposure. The program culminates in a Summative Field Experience providing the students with an opportunity to serve as a Team Leader on an ambulance.

By using a combination of more than 49 clinical and field sites in and surrounding Pittsburgh, the student has the opportunity for exposure to many facets of the health care continuum.

Clinical rotations include: Anesthesia, Burn, Emergency Department, Medical Command, IV Team/Medical Procedures Unit, Labor and Delivery, Pediatric Emergency Department, Psychiatric Emergency Department, ECT Lab, Respiratory Care, Critical Care ICU and Trauma.

Precepted by the dedicated men and women of our local EMS system, our students provide patient care on advanced life support ambulances. Our primary ALS field sites in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties include: Ambulance and Chair Service, Brownsville Ambulance, Cannonsburg EMS, City of Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS, Cranberry Township EMS, Eastern Area Prehospital Services, Lower Valley Ambulance Service, McCandless/Franklin Park Ambulance Authority, McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Squad, Medical Rescue Team South Authority, Monroeville Fire Company #1, Monroeville Fire Company #4, Munhall Area Prehospital Services, Murrysville Medic One, Mutual Aid Ambulance Service, Inc., North Huntington EMS/Rescue, NorthWest EMS, Penn Hills EMS, Penn Township EMS, Peters Township EMS, Plum EMS,  Robinson EMS, Ross/West View EMSA, Scott Township EMS, Shaler Hampton EMS, Southbridge EMS, SouthEast Regional EMS, Tri-Community South EMS, Valley Ambulance Authority, White Oak EMS, and Woodland Hills EMS.

In addition to required rotations, students have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills through an elective rotation at the following sites: STAT MedEvac helicopter program, the Emergency Medicine Residency Prehospital Physician Response Unit and an emergency department shift with the program medical director.

Through a series of terminal performance objectives, the student is required to complete specific patient contacts across the life span from newborn to geriatric patients, specific complaints and pathologies, as well as specific skills including airway management, IV insertion and medication administration. This intense and challenging program promotes a solid foundation for individuals pursuing the application of advanced life support care in a variety of prehospital and in-hospital health care systems.