The purpose of the Oregon Health & Science University/Oregon Institute of Technology Paramedic Education Program, an Associate of Applied Science degree, is to educate pre-hospital care providers; to prepare EMS leaders of the future; and to enhance the delivery of health care in the out-of-hospital setting.

The program prepares graduates to:

• Demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with professional and employer expectations of an entry-level paramedic.
• Demonstrate technical proficiency in all of the skills necessary to fulfill the role of an entry-level paramedic.
• Comprehend, apply, and evaluate information relative to the role of an entry-level paramedic.

Students in the program will demonstrate:

1. An understanding of EMS knowledge necessary to function in a healthcare setting.
2. An understanding of general medical knowledge necessary to function in a healthcare setting.
3. An ability to collect data from charts and patients.
4. An ability to interpret patient data.
5. An ability to recommend appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
6. An ability to use sound judgment while functioning in a healthcare setting.
7. An ability to perform a broad range of clinical skills.
8. An ability to perform patient assessment.
9. An ability to perform approved therapeutic procedures and modalities.
10. An ability to perform and interpret diagnostic procedures.
11. An ability to communicate effectively in a healthcare setting.
12. An ability to conduct oneself in an ethical and professional manner.
13. An ability to manage time efficiently while functioning in a healthcare setting.
14. An ability to use critical thinking skills to assess and treat patients in emergency settings.

During the 2007-08 academic year, the program faculty formally assessed the student learning outcomes summarized below. Additional details can be found in the attached assessment report and in department assessment records.

SLO#1:  An understanding of EMS Knowledge necessary to function in a healthcare setting

Assessment of student learning outcome #1 was two-part.  First a comparison of the 2007 graduating class's final comprehensive exam to the national certification exam confirmed that our students have excellent results on both exams.  A 100% first attempt pass rate was achieved on both exams.  Nationally the first attempt pass rate in the certification exam is 63%.  In an exam analysis students demonstrated above average strengths in knowledge, application and problem solving categories. Although the students passed both exams some area that could be improved on included; medical emergencies, OB/pediatrics and EMS Operations.  Plans to improve scores in these areas include:

• Assigning students to write out detailed medical emergencies profile
• Strengthening the OB/Pediatric lecture series during winter term
• Conducting a review lecture on EMS Operations near the end of the program to review materials taught during the first term of the program.

The second part of assessing SLO#1 was a survey of students during the EMS 231 Medical Emergencies course.  Although all 23 students in the course received passing grades, the assessment identified a slightly above "somewhat" satisfaction level in all three questions asked.  Weakness was identified in the student's understanding of what they needed to learn before the end of the course and what would be built upon in the following two terms of the Medical Emergencies courses.  We also identified a need for the students to have a better understanding of practical application in the field setting.  These weaknesses will be addressed by:

• A mid-term survey of the students asking what topic they feel they need to understanding better and reviewing those topic areas before the end of the term.
• Identifying topics that will be build upon in the second and third terms of Medical Emergencies
• Coordination of practical application in the skills lab course to weekly topics of instruction in the Medical Emergencies course.

SLO#6: An ability to use sound judgment while functioning in a healthcare setting

Our strength in this area is that 21 of the 22 students consistently from week one through week 10 were performing at a level meeting or above the objective's standard.   The one student not meeting the standard is now improving and will complete the course. With only one student not meeting the standard, it is difficult to draw any conclusion about weakness from this assessment.  At this time the faculty agrees that we may have an occasional student who takes a longer period of time to function at or above the standard when placed in the field environments.  No changes will be made to the externship course based on this assessment.

SLO#12:  An ability to conduct oneself in an ethical and professional manner. 

The program strength revealed in this assessment is that professional standards were average or above for >80% of the students and that students needing improvement did improve with additional experience and feedback.  The faculty feels that the weakness is this area lies in the fact that the evaluation itself is very subjective and it is difficult to identify student deficiencies prior to the students entering the clinical setting.  Faculty will continue to evaluate students' professional manner prior to the clinical experience phase of the program and begin corrective actions as needed.  Early feedback once in the clinical setting will be used to correct any deficiencies identified. Corrective actions are individualized to each student's deficiency.

SLO#14:  An ability to use critical thinking skills to assess and treat patients in emergency settings

Student strengths identified in assessment of SLO#14 include a strong ability to:

• identify problems
• recognize stake holders
• evaluate assumptions
• evaluate the evidence

The weakest area identified is in evaluating implications, conclusions and consequences.  Scenario based training use in the skills lab courses will be strengthened to include an evaluation of the scenario's implications, conclusions and consequences.  Since all faculty participates in portions of the lab instruction, this will be a group project.