Program Director's Message

 Message from the Program Director

Thank you for your interest in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program at Polk State College. The Paramedic program was first established in 1975 to meet local demands for an increased number of qualified paramedics. The College actively participated in and supported the first statewide EMS accreditation process in 1983 and has continued to the present. Our goal is to prepare competent entry-level emergency medical technicians and paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. We are privileged to have experienced faculty and clinical instructors derived from the EMS, fire science, and medical fields to guide our students in their academic and clinical experiences.

In 1991, the Polk State College EMS program created the Teaching EMS with Actual Methods (TEAM) Day activity that fosters cooperation among various EMS agencies. EMS TEAM Days are held once a semester. TEAM activities include the presentation of multiple scenarios and patient care simulations that students are expected to "treat" as a practicing EMT or paramedic would under the same circumstances. First responder students also participate in the simulations to add realism, which provides interactions between the various levels of providers and places the paramedic in a leadership role. Paramedic students participate in a total of three TEAM Days a year.

If you are interested in pursuing a rewarding, versatile, and challenging career, consider joining us today! On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students of the Emergency Medical Services program, we welcome you to our program and to an exciting and challenging profession in a progressive allied health field.

Sincerely,