Syllabus

Course Syllabus

Emergency Care - AP 4624
Paula J. Robinson, B.S., M.A., E.M.T.


	TRIMESTER CREDIT HOURS: 4
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3	LAB HOURS PER WEEK: 2
CONTACT HOURS PER TRI: 75 CLASSROOM LOCATION: E160	OFFICE LOCATION: East Building, Suite 207 Center for Chiropractic Sciences
OFFICE HOURS: Monday: 12:15 - 1:05 Tuesday: 12:15 - 1:05 Wednesday: 12:15 - 2:05 Thursday: 1:15 - 2:05	OFFICE TELEPHONE: (214) 352-7332 Extension 7229 email:probinson@parkercc.edu

PREREQUISITE: Parker Enrollment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to prepare the student to care for patients’ in common emergency situations. Emphasis will be placed on knowledge and proficiency in CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation), application and use of an AED (automated external defibrillator), use of emergency oxygen and the management of musculoskeletal and spinal injuries, shock, heart attacks, strokes, and common medical emergencies.

PURPOSE OF COURSE AS IT RELATES TO THE COLLEGE'S MISSION AND GOALS:
In compliance with the mission of Parker College of Chiropractic, the purpose of the course is to educate individuals in chiropractic wellness to be leaders in education, research, and service.

COURSE GOALS & OBJECTIVES:
In order meet the mission of the college this course is designed to prepare students to function effectively in emergency situations in public settings as well as private practice. By the end of the course the students will have be able to:

handle basic life support emergencies involving CPR and automated external defibrillators.
recognize and provide basic first responder care for sudden illnesses including stroke, heart attack, seizures, diabetic emergencies, environmental emergencies.
provide basic first responder care for bleeding and shock associated with soft tissue and muscuoskeletal injuries.

Students satisfactorily completing all of the certification requirements for this course will receive American Red Cross certifications for: CPR for the Professional Rescuer; Emergency Response (First Aid); Oxygen Administration; Automated External Defibrillation; and Preventing Disease Transmission.

REQUIRED TEXT(S):
Emergency Response, 3^rd Edition by American Red Cross, Mosby Publ. 2001
Emergency Care Lecture/Lab Manual, Fall 2006, Paula Robinson

REFERENCE TEXT(S):
Emergency Response Workbook, 3^rd Edition by American Red Cross, Mosby Publ. 2001
Recognition of Child Abuse for the Mandated Reporter by James A. Monteleone, Mosby Year Book, Inc., 1994

Emergency Care, 10^th edition by Daniel Limmer and Michael F. O’Keefe, Brady Publi. 2005

DISCLAIMER

The lecture outlines contained in the lecture booklet are NOT intended to represent the entire content of the course. A lecture outline is intended to be a guide to the lecture. The responsibility of the instructor is to follow the outline, expand the concepts and give explanation and illustrations to clarify content. The role of the student is to attend lecture and take notes over material presented by the lecturer that explains and illustrates the material listed in the outline. It is also the responsibility of the student to question the instructor if explanations and illustrations are not clearly presented or understood.

The instructors take no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of old notes, quiz questions or exam questions that students may purchase or may be given by previous students in Emergency Care.

COURSE MECHANICS (EVALUATIONS):


WRITTEN EXAMS (2)	20% each
POP QUIZZES / ASSIGNMENTS	18% total
PRACTICAL EXAM S (2)	12% each
COMPREHENSIVE FINAL **	18%

** (Must score a minimum of 80% on the written final for certification.

IMPORTANT CERTIFICATION NOTES

NOTE 1:
Certification is required in the Emergency Care course to enter outpatient clinic. The American Red Cross requires that a student practice and demonstrate each skill, therefore, attendance in lab is essential. You must perform each skill to be certified at the conclusion of the course. If you miss a lab you must make up the labs during another lab time, skills will not be up on an individual basis. Any student not meeting the skills requirements for the course as set by the standards of the American Red Cross will NOT be certified and will receive an Incomplete for the class. All incompletes must be made up by the first Friday of the new trimester or they convert to an “F” for the course.

You must also maintain a minimum of 50% attendance in lecture in order to be eligible for a passing grade and certification. If you attend less than 50% of the contact hours for lecture, whether the absence is excused or not, you will receive an "F" as your course grade."

NOTE 2:
You MUST score at least 80% on the comprehensive written final as required by the American Red Cross to be certified. An 80% minimum score on the final is a National American Red Cross requirement. Satisfactory completion of this course with certification is REQUIRED for entrance into public clinic. If you do not score an 80% you will NOT be CERTIFIED. Certification must be maintained in public clinic.

NOTE 3:
Evaluation for each lab practical begins on the first day of lab. Evaluations will take place during each scheduled lab period, with a mid-term and final to complete the lab practical requirements.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Laboratory attendance is mandatory. Failure to participate in all lab sessions will result in failing to complete certification requirements, a requirement for entrance into outpatient clinic. Failure to participate in all labs will also result in a course grade reduction.

Quizzes will be used as a balance check on attendance. If you are signed in but do not take a quiz you will be counted absence that day for class.

A professional education at Parker College requires a full time commitment by the student. Classes are demanding and academic standards are high. Students must expect to spend a significant part of each day in and out of class to successfully complete the program. Full realization of the learning process is reliant upon the fact that students are expected to attend and be attentive and participatory in all lecture and laboratory classes. Students must attend classes on a regular basis to attain the skill, training and expertise they will need to become successful Doctors of Chiropractic. It is in this light that Parker College of Chiropractic considers classroom attendance to be mandatory in all scheduled classes and laboratory sessions and failure of the student to attend classes and/or laboratory sessions could result in poor academic performance by the student, possible grade reduction and/or the student receiving a failing grade in the class.

At the discretion of the individual faculty member, student attendance in lectures, laboratory sessions and/or scheduled academic conferences may be a factor in deriving a student's grade.

Students who are repeating a course because of previous academic failure are required by the Dean of Academic Affairs to attend all lectures and labs of the course in question. A student on Academic Probation is required to attend all lectures, laboratory sessions and scheduled academic conferences. If a faculty member in a department finds that a student is not meeting this attendance requirement, the student will be notified in writing with a copy of the letter sent to the office of the Dean of Academic Affairs.

The student is responsible for obtaining and learning subject materials presented during an absence. When the period of absence is known and may be planned, the student must confer with the appropriate course director and determine a plan of action for that absence. Absence from any examination (lecture or lab) must be accompanied by a written excuse documenting the extenuating circumstance which prevented the student from sitting the examination. If the excuse is considered valid by the course director then arrangements to sit exam must be made with the course director within 5 days of returning to class.

The licensing requirements of the states vary widely. Some state boards require a specific number of classroom hours in order to obtain a license to practice as a Doctor of Chiropractic in their respective states. It is the student's responsibility to determine, fulfill and document the requirements of the state(s) in which they are planning to apply for licensure. These requirements are available from the individual state boards and kept in the Office of the Registrar for the student to review.

Attendance roll sheets are passed out at the beginning of each class. To be counted present for a class you must be present, in your seat and you must sign the roll sheet when the roll seat comes past your seat. Roll sheets will be picked up by the instructor once they have passed through all rows of the classroom. No student will be allowed to sign the roll sheet once it is picked up by the instructor. It is the student's responsibility to be on time and in their seats when the class starts and the roll sheets are passed out. Quizzes will be used as a balance check on attendance. If you are signed in but do not take a quiz you will be counted absence that day for class.

Tardiness is disruptive to the class. Each student should make every attempt to get to class on time. A professor may refuse to allow a tardy student to enter the classroom. A student who is tardy to a class and does not sign the roll sheet when it passes his/her seat will be counted absent for that class period.

NOTE: THE CERTIFYING AGENCY REQUIRES YOU TO PERFORM ALL OF THE SKILLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CLASS. THEREFORE, ATTENDANCE FOR LABS IS REQUIRED. ATTENDANCE WILL BE TAKEN IN ALL LABS AT THE END OF THE LAB PERIOD.

YOU MUST COMPLETE ALL OF THE LAB SKILLS TO BE CERTIFIED.

GRADING SCALE:
Evaluation is an integral part of the educational process and is used as an educational tool to help students identify problem areas, to recognize and reward achievement, and to identify students who are unable to meet the rigors of the curriculum. Final grades and their interpretation are listed below:


Grade	Numerical Value	Grade Point Average	Interpretation of Academic Achievement
A	89.5 - 100	4.0	Excellent
B	79.5 - 89.5	3.0	Above Average
C	69.5 - 79.5	2.0	Satisfactory
D	59.5 - 69.5	1.0	Minimal
F	Below 59.5	0.0	Unacceptable

NOTE: Any student receiving less than an 80 on the comprehensive final exam for certification must retake the exam by the end of the first week of the following trimester to be certified in the course. Failure to retake the exam for certification will affect entrance into the Outpatient Health Care Centers.

EXAMINATIONS:

MISSED EXAM POLICY

If a student has to miss an exam, the course director must be notified PRIOR to the exam unless the student is physically incapable of notifying the course director and then written documentation must be provided to this effect. Notification of the course director should be done by email or a phone call to that faculty member. If a student fails to notify the course director before the exam (or in the case of documented physical incapacitation within a 24-hour period of a missed exam) the exam grade will be calculated as a zero.

With documentation of extenuating circumstances for missing a written exam, faculty may either give a written make-up (multiple choice, true/false, essay, etc.) or move the points to the final exam. The make-up exam (which will be a different exam and may or may not be of the same level of difficulty as the exam given to the rest of the class) must be taken within 5 business days of the missed exam unless the student is physically incapable of doing so or unless other arrangements are made by the course director. The exam time will be scheduled at the discretion of the course director.

With documentation of extenuating circumstances for missing a lab practical, points may be moved to the final lab practical or student must take a make-up lab practical (which will be a different lab practical and may or may not be of the same level of difficulty as the lab practical given to the rest of the class) within 5 business days unless the student is physically incapable of doing so or unless other arrangements are made by the course director. The time of the make up lab practical will be scheduled at the discretion of the course director.

VACATION, LEISURE TRAVEL, SEMINAR ATTENDANCE, OVER SLEEPING, etc. DO NOT CONSTITUTE EXTRA ORDINARY OR EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES FOR MISSING AN EXAM. The course director should be contacted prior to an exam if a student has any questions about the validity of an excuse to miss an exam or lab practical. The determination of extenuating circumstances is under the sole discretion of the individual faculty member. Faculty members have the right to grant or deny any make up exam/lab practical based upon their individual determination of the circumstances surrounding the student’s absence.

FAILED PRACTICAL EXAM

Students are allowed no more than one (1) retake for a failed practical exam. All retakes result in a 15 point deduction in the exam score.

ABSENCES FOR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

Parker College will excuse students from attending classes and other required activities for the observance of religious holidays, including travel for that purpose.

A religious holiday means a day of observance by a religion whose places of worship is exempt from property taxation under Section 11.20 of the Texas Tax Code (or would be exempt if the place of worship was located in Texas).

A student whose absence is excused under this policy may not be penalized. Those students will be allowed to take examinations or complete any assignments they missed due to observance of the religious holy day (see missed exam policy). With the student’s agreement, the course director may move the points from the missed examination or assignment to the final exam in that course or make other arrangements to make up the missed exam or work. A student may be required to show written documentation.

A student who will miss an examination or assignment for the observance of a religious holy day should notify the course directors of all courses affected prior to the absence.

If a student and a faculty member disagree about whether an absence is for the observance of a religious holy day or whether the faculty member has allowed the student a reasonable time to complete any missed examinations or assignments (see missed exam policy), the faculty member or the student may request a ruling from the Dean of Academic Affairs. The student and the faculty member will abide by the decision of the Dean of Academic Affairs.

CLASS COMMUNICATIONS:
When we need to transmit important information to the class or an individual student, we will contact you via your Parker email address. As a Parker student you are responsible to periodically check your email. If you do not know your Parker email address, or how to log on to collect your email messages, contact Information Services at ext. 7450. If you experience an adverse outcome from missing important information, "I don't check my email" will not be considered a valid excuse.

LECTURE EXAM REVIEW:
The review period for each exam will begin after the posting of the grades and last for five working days only, excluding weekends and holidays.

Questions about the final exam and/or final course grades must be reviewed with the Course Director by 3:00 p.m. the third day of the new trimester.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Cheating will not be tolerated. If you are caught cheating, you will receive a "0" on that exam and disciplinary action will be taken which could result in your dismissal from Parker College. If you are suspected of cheating on an exam you may be singled out and required to sit in the front of the classroom so that you can be clearly watched. The cheating policy includes lecture exams, lab quizzes and lab practicals.

PROFESSIONAL DECORUM
Students are expected to behave in a professional manner at all times. Positive contributions to the learning environment and participation in classroom learning activities are expected. Students should demonstrate courtesy to the instructor, to special guest speakers, and to other classmates. Focusing your attention on anything other than pertinent classroom material could be considered discourteous. Any person who is discourteous or disrupts the class with unprofessional conduct may be asked to leave the classroom and will be counted absent for that class period.

Cell phones and pagers should be turned off while in the classroom.

COMPUTER USE
Students are encouraged to utilize personal computers in the classroom for taking notes, following the lecture outlines or reference materials, etc. Other uses unrelated to the lecture topic are not allowed. As an example, surfing the Internet or playing games during lecture or lab time is strictly prohibited and will result in the student being asked to discontinue use of their computers. Also, the student may be asked to leave the classroom and will be counted absent for that class period.

AUDIO/VIDEO TAPING
Since the courts have ruled that a professor's voice and physical image are their personal property, the prerogative of the audio taping and/or video recording of lectures/laboratories is a right specifically reserved to faculty. Should you wish to record, using any device you must obtain the permission the respective instructor in all classes.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
The provisions contained in this syllabus do not constitute a contract between the students and Parker College of Chiropractic. These provisions may be changed at any time for any reason at the discretion of the course director. When necessary, in the view of the college, appropriated notice of such changes will be given to the student.