In the fall of 1974, Missouri Southern State College offered a Mobile Intensive Care Technician (MICT) course. This was one of two courses offered in the State of Missouri. Emergency room physicians and nurses taught this course using a medical school text. At that time, no text existed for emergency medicine. The course was offered one time each year and required 400 clock hours of instruction.
From this course the EMT-Basic and Paramedic programs were developed. By the fall of 1985 the EMT-Basic course was a 120 clock hour program and the Paramedic course was a 600 clock hour program. EMT was offered twice each year, during the fall and spring semester. The Paramedic was offered once each year, starting with the fall semester and ending at the conclusion of the spring semester. The programs follow the national curriculum format developed by the United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The National Registry exam was offered beginning with graduates in 1988. Further program development occurred and in 1995 the Department of Emergency Medical Training was established and the first Director was named. In the fall of 2001, a one semester, six credit-hour Emergency Medical Technician course and a three semester, 33 credit-hour Paramedic course was adopted. The Emergency Medical Technician program was offered as an evening course each fall and spring semester. The Paramedic program was offered each fall semester and requires three semesters to complete. In 2012, the Emergency Medical Technician curriculum increased to nine credit-hours and a day section was added.
In the fall of 2014, the Paramedic Program saw a major overhaul in curriculum, national accreditation through the Committee on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, and the first offering of a Bachelor of Health Science with an EMS emphasis. Additionally, Escaping Violent Encounters certification became a requirement for both EMT and Paramedic programs. The Paramedic curriculum was divided into fifteen topical courses, totaling 38 credit-hours and 1,268 clock-hours of instruction. Classroom instruction as well as clinical observation and experience are combined to provide program students with necessary skills to enter the health professions workforce.
The MSSU Emergency Medical Service Department is an Accredited Training Entity for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Missouri Unit of Emergency Medical Services. The Paramedic Program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. The courses offered meet all requirements of the National Standard Curriculum.
