PCC’s Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Program Accredited
February 8, 2012
Tucson, AZ – Pima Community College’s Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic program has received accreditation from the nationally recognized Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Accreditation is a marker of educational excellence, assuring students that PCC’s EMT-Paramedic program adheres to current professional standards.
“The commission commends you and your colleagues for your commitment to continuous quality improvement in education,” the accrediting organization’s president, Hugh Bonner, wrote in informing PCC Chancellor Dr. Roy Flores of the program’s accreditation. PCC’s EMT-Paramedic program currently is the only one in the state to receive the organization’s accreditation.
The success rate of PCC students on The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians-Paramedic examinations impressed the accreditation team, said Sharon Hollingsworth, Advanced Program Manager for the Public Safety and Emergency Services Institute. The organization requires accredited EMT-Paramedic programs to maintain a 70 percent success rate on the tests. PCC’s success rate is 98 percent.
The accreditation team “looked at everything,” Hollingsworth said, including compliance with state and national standards, instructor credentials, and the use of state-of-the-art equipment during instruction.
“The fact that we pull instructors from throughout the county has been recognized as a program strength,” Hollingsworth said.
For Lucy Slate, who graduated in November, the best qualities of the EMT-Paramedic program were being able to practice on state-of-the-art equipment, close communication with instructors and staff, and the quality of the instruction.
“It is extremely important for me that the instructors work or worked in the field,” Lucy says. It gave her great confidence that what she was learning was valuable. Additionally, “we speak the same language. They see, work and experience what will be seeing soon,” says Lucy, who on Feb. 1 began full-time employment as a firefighter/paramedic at the Rio Rico Fire District.
The accreditation process began with a yearlong self-study. The self-study report was submitted in December 2010. The accreditation team visited PSESI on June 6-7.
“Our Paramedic program provides trained professionals for employment throughout the region. They help keep Southern Arizonans safe and healthy,” Dr. Flores said.
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs is a postsecondary accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. It accredits more than 2,100 entry-level education programs in 23 health science professions. PCC’s accreditation is good for five years.
Fifty-two students are currently in EMT-Paramedic program. The next class begins in April. For more information on PSESI and its programs, visit http://www.pima.edu/business-industry/public-safety-emergency/, call 206-6350, or email psi@pima.edu.
From 2006-2010, nearly 500 EMTs, paramedics, firefighters and police officers earned degrees or certificates through PCC’s Public Safety and Emergency Services Institute. More first responders come through PSESI than any other academy in Southern Arizona.
CONTACT:
C.J. Karamargin
Vice Chancellor for Public Information and Government Relations
(520) 206-4850
ckaramargin@pima.edu