All programs (CAAHEP-accredited and CoAEMSP-LoR) must annually publish their outcome results (e.g. National Registry or State Written Exam, Retention, and Positive Job Placement) from the calendar year two years prior verifiable by the latest annual report required.

The Annual Report tool is 1) based on a calendar year, and 2) data reported is for graduates and events occurring in the calendar year of the report.

The Annual Report is based on the 2019 calendar year and its graduates and is due May 15, 2021. The due date allows the program at a minimum of 18 months to gather all relevant data and sufficient time to send out and collect results for the Graduate and Employer Surveys for the applicable annual report year.

Paramedic educational programs are required to submit an annual report that encompasses the following three (3) key metrics:

All CAAHEP accredited, and CoAEMSP Letter of Review (LoR) programs are required to complete the Annual Report and publish the outcomes from their annual report on their website. Outcomes will be for the year reported (and no longer based on a 3-year average).

As the CoAEMSP continues to become more outcomes-oriented in its approach to EMS education, evaluating identified outcomes measures becomes increasingly important.

The CoAEMSP has developed this webinar to assist you in preparing your program's Annual Report.

LAST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

4:00-5:00pm Central

April 28, May 26, and June 30

Open to Everyone!

To support program directors in navigating accreditation as an everyday activity, the CoAEMSP staff is introducing monthly “Virtual Office Hours,” an open time when program directors, deans, medical directors, and lead instructors can drop into a Zoom call with staff without scheduling a meeting.

To do so, simply click the Zoom link below. You can ask questions or seek guidance about accreditation or any other challenges--we are here to support you!

Nuanced or confidential questions should be addressed with the appropriate staff person outside "Virtual Office Hours."

"Virtual Office Hours" are limited to the first 100 to join, which will allow two-way communication.

To join via your web browser: click here

To join via the Zoom app:

Meeting ID: 865 6111 2834

Metropolitan Community College is deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Joe Stothert, renowned local surgeon, and medical director of MCC's Fire Science Technology and Paramedicine programs. Dr. Stothert routinely met with students and encouraged their success by giving professional and life advice. He was instrumental in the growth and preservation of MCC Health Careers programming and was a tireless advocate for those in the field. Dr. Stothert touched the lives of many, including MCC faculty and staff.

Read the tributes from some of his colleagues:

Craig Jacobus, EMS Program Director and Instructor

Jeff "Boomer" Strawn, Fire Science Technology Director and Instructor

Dr. Stacey Ocander, Dean of Health Careers

F-M Ambulance and Sanford Health EMS Education/North Dakota State College of Science are deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Heidi Lako-Adamson, medical director of the Paramedic program.

Dr. Lako-Adamson fell in love with EMS at an early age and began as an EMT with F-M Ambulance of Fargo.  She then attended a Paramedic Program and became a Paramedic with F-M Ambulance. She continued her education, earning her medical degree and working as an Emergency Room Physician, eventually receiving her Board Certification in Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Lako-Adamson was extremely involved with her rescue squads and took an active role in the development of new protocols for her squads. Dr. Lako-Adamson worked hard to make sure that her squads were always up to date on the most cutting-edge technology in emergency medicine and was a big advocate for F-M Ambulance and rural EMS in North Dakota.  She was active in the classroom teaching her squads and was also passionate about staying involved in the training of new Paramedic students.

Always proud of her EMS roots, she just renewed her National Registry Paramedic for the 11th time, signifying over 20 years in EMS. She served as a volunteer physician for the NDSU Women’s Soccer and Volleyball programs and was Medical Director for the Fargo Marathon.

Programs are required to evaluate their services in a variety of ways, obtaining input from multiple sources. In the larger picture of Paramedic educational program operation, resource assessment is a process that can include many components: regular surveys or evaluations from students; end of program evaluations from students; evaluations from students on specific clinical, field and capstone field internship rotations and preceptors; comments from students, faculty, employers, and Advisory Committee members; CoAEMSP Annual Report; and the use of other available tools for example a SWOT analysis (strength, weaknesses, opportunities, threats).

While some tools and processes are left to the discretion of the program on the frequency and tool or instrument used, CoAEMSP requires that programs complete a specific resource assessment on an annual basis. This process has three components and the documents are found in the online CoAEMSP Resource Library in the Resource Assessment Section.

Join us for these webinars, each focusing on a component of the CAAHEP Standards. Each webinar is approximately 60 minutes:

August 12, 1pm Central

September 9, 1pm Central

December 2, 1pm Central

THIS IS EMS: Over the last year, the pandemic has given people a small glimpse of the vital role of EMS professionals. The sacrifice and dedication of EMTs, paramedics and other EMS practitioners have rightfully earned them admiration and gratitude in their communities.

Calling us heroes sometimes obscures the fact that—behind those masks—are people who, every day, take on many crucial roles: Healthcare professional. Emergency manager. Social worker. Crisis counselor. Consoler. Caregiver.

This year, for National EMS Week, May 16-22, 2021, we honor the many roles of EMS professionals and the people behind the scenes who support them. We also recognize the need to share our story with the rest of the world, to make sure people understand that EMS isn’t defined by lights and sirens or ambulance rides. The full portrait of what EMS does, and who we are, is much more complex, diverse, and nuanced.

It’s the paramedic who makes sure someone will feed an elderly patient’s cat when she’s at the hospital.

It’s the department that steps up to run testing and vaccination clinics when no one else can.

It’s the EMT who holds a child’s hand on the way to the hospital to make sure he isn’t scared.

It’s the crew that spends an hour fighting for a cardiac arrest victim’s life at the end of a long, sleepless night.

It’s the emergency medical professionals who care for our communities, day in and day out.

THIS IS EMS.

Learn more about the campaign at emsstrong.org and how you can participate during EMS Week May 16-22, 2021.

Staff Contact: Patricia Tritt, pat@coaemsp.org

At times program sponsors look to the CoAEMSP for guidance on the resources necessary to conduct a Paramedic educational program as they plan to offer a new program or are assessing if resources are sufficient for an existing one. Local resources include staffing, space for educational activities, and equipment. In addition, sufficient resources for clinical and field experience and capstone field internship are essential.

The CoAEMSP has developed a model for staffing, space, equipment, and supplies. These are recommendations only for reference and are not part of the CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in the Emergency Medical Services Professions. Sponsors may adapt and adjust as appropriate for their situation.

There is no one formula for the various resources required to conduct a Paramedic program. Each program sponsor must consider many variables including but not limited to: the number of cohorts per year, number of students enrolled, program schedule and course sequencing, number of instructional hours per week, institutional setting (i.e., using existing space or acquiring new facilities), and other courses or duties assigned to existing or future faculty and staff.

Two sample documents posted in the CoAEMSP Resource Library are the following:

Paramedic Educational Program Staffing Model Recommendations that provides:

Paramedic Program Proforma Excel document that includes:

Paramedic educational programs require extensive resources to meet student and stakeholder needs and ensure long-term sustainability. Thoughtful decisions on available resources and budgetary requirements are important considerations.

To better understand the current instructional landscape, CoAEMSP is requesting programs to complete a brief questionnaire regarding the past, present, and future considerations in incorporating distance methodologies.

Distance education is defined as education that uses one or more technologies to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor and that supports regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor, either synchronously or asynchronously.

EMS education requires live instruction and evaluation in the laboratory setting, and therefore the entire program cannot be considered a total distance program.

EMS education can be conducted as a blended or hybrid model where instruction within the course is provided using a combination of on-ground and distance education instruction. Clinical and capstone field internship activities occur at affiliated sites. Note that learning management systems are invaluable tools in course coordination and delivery and are not considered distance delivery.

Recent events have posed unique challenges for Paramedic educational programs with the resultant need to modify content delivery methods.

Thank you in advance for completing this important questionnaire.

Staff Contact: Lynn Caruthers, lynn@coaemsp.orgynn@coaemsp.org  

When a program has no students enrolled and matriculating, accredited programs may request a period of inactive status. A program may remain inactive for up to two years. During this time the program is required to pay all CoAEMSP and CAAHEP fees. No students may be enrolled or be matriculating in the program during the time period in which the program is inactive. To request an inactive status a program must submit the appropriate CAAHEP request for Inactive Status letter. You may email Lynn Caruthers (lynn@coaemsp.org) to request the Inactive Status template letter.

For the complete policy and procedure for inactive status, review the CoAEMSP and CAAHEP Policy Manuals available here.

Are you familiar with the CoAEMSP Policy and Procedures Manual? Are you familiar with the CAAHEP Policy and Procedures Manual? Be sure you are, as programs are required to comply with BOTH!

When the CoAEMSP revises its policies, they are reviewed to ensure they are consistent with the CAAHEP Policy and Procedures Manual.

Registration will open on September 1

These virtual workshops are held via Zoom and are designed to educate participants on the 2015 CAAHEP Standards and the accreditation process, enhancing the accreditation knowledge of Paramedic program faculty. Through the use of expert presentations and interactive group learning activities, the workshop will provide best practices to avoid common stumbling blocks.

ACCREDITCON is designed to help your Paramedic educational program succeed in initial and continuing accreditation. That's why nearly all sessions address a specific CAAHEP Standard!

To make it easy, session descriptions reference a specific CAAHEP Standard. You will get detailed instruction on a particular Standard in that session to help you avoid costly and time-consuming mistakes and oversights.

ACCREDITCON is the most valuable investment you can make, offering every necessary resource for achieving accreditation success!

ACCREDITCON is designed to support programs, carry out its mission “to advance the quality of EMS education through accreditation” and respond to the needs of over 700 Paramedic educational programs.

Visit the ACCREDITCON website for updates.

Staff Contact: Sybil Land, sybil@coaemsp.org

The Annual Accreditation fee invoice for the 2021-2022 academic year will be sent to your program on May 5, 2021. In an effort to save time, streamline processes, reduce data entry, and eliminate additional processing fees, the CoAEMSP is encouraging all programs to pay invoices via Automated Clearing House (ACH). You may also use the View and Pay Invoice option located within the invoice.

The CoAEMSP will accept checks mailed using a traceable carrier such as UPS, USPS, or FedEx; however, know that we are moving toward requiring all future payments to be made via ACH or View and Pay. Credit cards are not accepted.

All programs selecting to pay by ACH should email a payment advice to sybil@coaemsp.org. (A payment advice provides the details on payment and provides advance notice to the recipient.)

The advantages of paying via ACH or the View and Pay Invoice are:

•   pay directly through the invoice

•   secure environment

•   payment processes in 3 days instead of 3 weeks (checks)

•   automatically applies to the invoice (less data entry errors)

Thank you for your attention to this upcoming annual accreditation fee cycle.

For a current list of CoAEMSP LoR and CAAHEP Accredited programs, visit www.caahep.org.