Emergency Health Services

Faculty

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Chair

Bruce Walz

Clinical Professor

Jeffrey Mitchell

Associate Professor

Richard Bissell

Clinical Associate Professor

Stephen Dean
Brian Maguire

Clinical Assistant Professor

John Ashworth
Crista Lenk

Senior Lecturer

Dwight Polk

Instructor Emeritus

William Hathaway

Medical Director

Kevin Seaman

Clinical Coordinator

Michael Cooney

Center for Emergency Education and Disaster Research

Andrew Bumbak

Courses in this program are listed under EHS.

Students gain a unique depth of experience in emergency health services through this baccalaureate degree. The program stresses academic and clinical abilities, interpersonal and leadership skills, and the capacity for appropriate judgment. The major objective of the degree program is to prepare students for work in various occupational settings relating to emergency health services systems. Primary emphasis is placed upon developing leadership skills and promoting personal and professional growth.

Graduates are prepared to:

1) Coordinate and manage emergency health systems

2) Interact effectively with other professionals in the emergency medical services system, as well as with community agencies and the general public

3) Satisfy certification requirements for EMT-Basic or EMT-Paramedic

4) Conduct or use research

5) Pursue graduate study

The Department of Emergency Health Services offers a unique perspective for the education of future EMS professionals. This is accomplished by providing a broad liberal arts and sciences education, which enhances the graduates’ employment opportunities as pre-hospital providers and managers. The Department of Emergency Health Services also prepares graduates for advancement to graduate and professional studies.

Career and Academic Paths

Federal, state and local efforts in the past decade have resulted in innovative programs designed to improve the quality and efficiency of emergency health care services. As a result, several career fields have been created. Health professionals are needed at all levels in today’s emergency medical services system. Depending on experience and education, EMS health professionals will serve as emergency medical technicians, educators, supervisors, coordinators, planners, consultants, managers and directors. Additionally, EMS activities are relevant to ambulance providers, fire and rescue services, hospitals, industrial health services, military and volunteer EMS organizations.

The solid academic basis of the EHS baccalaureate degree also prepares students for advanced studies in the sciences, medicine, public health, hospital administration and other health management programs. There are two separate tracks within the Department of Emergency Health Services — management and paramedic.

Management Track

Admission to the management track is concurrent with the general admission requirements at UMBC. Both freshman and transfer students must submit university
application forms to the UMBC Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation.

Paramedic Track

The EMT paramedic is a professional provider of emergency care who must possess the essential attributes that are demanded by the profession, including general academic ability, physical abilities, interpersonal relationship skills, capacity for appropriate judgment and orientation toward human services. Class size is limited. EHS paramedic track majors are required to submit a formal application to the paramedic track by March 31, preceding the first semester that the student is eligible to take paramedic clinical courses. All EHS paramedic track lower-division requirements must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher prior to taking any paramedic clinical courses.

The application will be accompanied by:

A copy of the student’s Maryland EMT-Basic certification

Current CPR (BCLS) certifications

Acceptable verification of status of physical health and immunizations

Verification of active EMS experience, including documentation of at least 100 patient contacts with assessments prior to the first semester of paramedic clinical courses

Four recommendations as suggested by the program

Official transcripts from all colleges or university programs

Verification of membership in a Maryland fire or EMS agency

The application package, including academic record, will be reviewed by a selection committee. Final selection of students will be based on a personal interview, the ability to complete any remaining credit hours of EHS paramedic track lower-division requirements prior to the beginning of the first semester of paramedic clinical courses and the student’s previous emergency care experiences. Interviews are scheduled in April.

Paramedic track students are required to purchase malpractice insurance through the university and scrubs and clinical uniforms from the department while engaged in clinical and field experience. Other fees and costs may be associated with participation in clinical and field training. Students are required to provide their own transportation to clinical and field experience sites. Personal health insurance coverage is strongly recommended.

The paramedic track is accredited nationally by the Committee on Accreditation of EMS Professions and locally by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems.

Academic Advising

Successful completion of the EHS program requires thoughtful sequencing and careful attention to the program requirements; therefore, early and continuous advising is necessary. Students will be assigned a permanent EHS faculty advisor upon receipt of application forms. Transfer students should seek pre-transfer advising from the UMBC Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation and the EHS office. The Department of Emergency Health Services welcomes high school students to contact an advisor for information. All UMBC students are required to complete the General Education Program (GEP). Students must take elective courses in science, humanities, social science and culture or foreign language to fulfill the GEP. Some GEPs coincide with EHS degree requirements. Students are encouraged to work closely with their EHS faculty advisor in selecting GEP courses that will satisfy their individual interests.

Major Program

The EHS curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree combines courses in the arts and humanities, social sciences, mathematics, sciences and EHS courses.
A grade of “C” or better is required for all courses in the major. P/F grading is not acceptable for departmental required coursework.

EHS Management Track Lower-Division Requirements

Science Course (6 credits required)
BIOL 103
Biological Topics in Modern Society [3]
OR
SCI 100
Water: An Interdisciplinary Study
OR
CHEM 100
The Chemical World [3]

Mathematics Courses (7 credits required)
MATH 115
Finite Mathematics [3]
OR
MATH 100
Contemporary Mathematics [3]

STAT 121
Introduction to Statistics of the Social Sciences [4]

Social Sciences/Political Science (21 credits required)
SOCY 101
Basic Concepts in Sociology [3]
PSYC 100
Introduction to Psychology [4]
POLI 100
American Government [3]
POLI 250
Public Administration [3]
ECON 101
Principles of Microeconomics [3]
ECON 121
Principles of Accounting I [3]
ECON 122
Principles of Accounting II [3]

Emergency Health Services (3 credits)
EHS 200*
Introduction to Emergency Health Services [3]

*Transfer students enroll during first semester at UMBC.

English (3 credits)
ENGL 100
Composition [3]

Electives (31 credits)

Select from EHS electives or GFR. Management track majors are encouraged to complete electives for the Certificate in Public Administration.

EHS Management Track Upper-Division Requirements

Social Sciences/Political Science (9 credits required)
SOCY 351*
Medical Sociology [3]
POLI 354
Public Management and Personnel Systems [3]
ECON 467
Health Economics [3]

Emergency Health Services (40 credits required)

EHS 300
Emergency Health Services Theory and Practice [3]
EHS 301
Planning Emergency Health Systems [3]
EHS 302
Clinical Concepts and Practice [4]
EHS 351*
Financial Management and Budgeting [3]
EHS 352*
Microcomputer Applications to Health Services [3]
EHS 360
Instructional Issues in EHS [3]
EHS 400
Emergency Health Services Theory and Practice II [3]
EHS 430
Research Topics in Emergency Health Services [3]
EHS 450*
Emergency Health Services Practicum [15]

Total Credits: 120
(Lower and Upper Division)
* Alternate course work may satisfy the requirement.

EHS Paramedic Track Lower-Division Requirements

Mathematics/ Science Courses (21 credits required)
BIOL 100
Concepts of Biology [4]
BIOL 100L
Concepts of Biology Laboratory [2]
BIOL 251
Anatomy and Physiology of the Body I [3]
BIOL 251L
Anatomy and Physiology of the Body I Lab [1]
BIOL 252
Anatomy and Physiology of the Body II
BIOL 252L
Anatomy and Physiology of the Body II Lab [1]

MATH 115
Finite Mathematics [3]
OR
MATH 100
Contemporary Mathematics [3] (If required for Chemistry pre- or co-requisites)

STAT 121
Introduction to Statistics [4]

Social Sciences/ Political Science (10 credits required)
SOCY 101
Basic Concepts in Sociology [3]
PSYC 100
Introduction to Psychology [4]
PSYC 285
Abnormal Psychology [3]

Others and Electives (19 credits required)
EHS 200
Introduction to Emergency Health Services [3]
ENGL 100
Composition [3]

Electives [16]

Select from EHS electives and physical education to complete GFR.

EHS Paramedic Track Upper-Division Requirements

Emergency Health Services (25 credits required)

EHS 300
EHS Theory and Practice [3]
EHS 301Planning EHS Systems [3]
EHS 302
Clinical Concepts and Practice [4]
EHS 350
Supervision and Operations of Emergency Health Services [3]
EHS 351
Financial Management and Budgeting [3]
EHS 352*
Microcomputer Application to Health Services [3]
EHS 360
Instructional Issues in Emergency Health Services [3]
EHS 430*
Research Topics in EHS [3]

Paramedic Clinical Courses (42 credits required)

EHS 471
EMS Systems and Patient Assessment [3]
EHS 472
Principles of Pharmacology [3]
EHS 473
Essentials of Cardiology [3]
EHS 474
Introduction to Medical Emergencies [3]
EHS 475
Managing Respiratory and Critically Ill Patients [3]
EHS 476
Introduction to Trauma Emergencies [3]
EHS 477
Special Populations in EHS [3]
EHS 478
Field Operations in EMS [3]
EHS 481
ALS Field and Clinical Experience I [4]
EHS 482
ALS Field and Clinical Experience II [6]
EHS 483
ALS Field and Clinical Experience III [6]
EHS 491
Senior Paramedic Seminar I [1]
EHS 492
Senior Paramedic Seminar II [1]

Total Credits: 117
(Lower and Upper Division)
* Alternate course work may satisfy the requirement.

Minor Program

To earn a minor in EHS, in conjunction with a bachelor of arts or science degree in another discipline, students must complete a minimum of 18 credits, including:

EHS 200
Concepts of Emergency Health Services [3]
EHS 302
Clinical Concepts and Practice (EMT-Basic) [4]

Any four additional upper-division EHS courses, except internships, independent study and courses open exclusively to paramedic track students. Students interested in EHS as a minor should consult a department advisor for assistance. No courses taken on a P/F basis shall count toward the minor. A grade of “C” or better is required for all minor courses.

Certificate of Public Administration

The Department of Emergency Health Services, through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Political Science, offers a Certificate of Public Administration and Policy. Students must complete 36 credit hours for the certificate. The following course work must be completed to be eligible for the certificate:

POLI 250
Public Administration [3]
POLI 350
The Policy-Making Process [3]
POLI 352
Administrative Law [3]
POLI 353
Governmental Budgeting [3]
POLI 354
Public Management and Personnel Systems [3]
POLI 450
Administrative Problem Handling [3] (or other Poli course between 440-459)

Graduate Programs

The Department of Emergency Health Services at UMBC also offers a graduate program leading to a master of science degree. The concept of emergency health services graduate study at UMBC encompasses all EMS system components. The educational program is primarily focused on preparing professionals for leadership roles requiring skills in planning, research and development, and organizational operations. The curriculum offers three separate tracks and is designed to provide graduate-level training and education to health care providers, researchers, educators, policy-makers and administrators. This degree is also a core component of the UMB-UMBC post-residency fellowship in emergency medical services.

The three major tracks in the program are: (1) EHS management; (2) preventive medicine and epidemiology and (3) education. Track 1 is offered via distance education and enrolls students from around the world. For tracks two and three, the department has designed a graduate program incorporating offerings from several university departments at both UMBC and UMB; these two tracks are set up primarily as an on-campus evening program. The EHS degree sequence is designed to fit the needs of part-time as well as full-time students.

Combined B.S./M.S.

Students in the EHS undergraduate program who meet specific qualifications may opt for a combined B.S./M.S. degree that can, under optimal conditions, be completed in five years total time for both degrees.

Part-time Option

The management track can be completed on a part-time basis. The paramedic track requires full-time status during the junior and senior years.

Special Opportunities

UMBC’s close proximity to and cooperative arrangements with the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) professional schools and the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) provides students unique opportunities
for contacts and experiences.

Included in the possibilities are: Maryland’s internationally renowned R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, the National Study Center for Trauma/EMS and the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Student Organizations

EHS majors, minors and graduate students are encouraged to participate in the Council of Majors.