Clinical Education

Clinical and field training provide an opportunity to develop and apply clinical knowledge and skills to the actual treatment of emergency patients. As students are instructed in the theoretical practice of emergency medicine, they participate in various supervised clinical experiences. These experiences are designed to refine the skills involved in patient care. During clinical and field training, students have an opportunity to rotate through some of the nation’s most respected emergency medical services and health care facilities.

Potential Clinical Rotations

With the abundance of hospitals and health care opportunities within the Pittsburgh area, Center students have the ability to participate in a variety of clinical shifts. Over the years, the Center has established great clinical relationships with various hospitals in the area, which allows for Center students to participate in clinical opportunities that are difficult for other programs to offer.

While in training, each student completes in-hospital clinical experiences in the following areas:

Emergency Department
Critical Care (Coronary Care Unit, Trauma ICU, SICU, Cardiac Cath Lab, etc.)
Burn Care
Anesthesia Department
Psychiatric Emergency Department
Intravenous Team
Pediatrics
Obstetrics/Gynecology (Labor Suite, Delivery Room, Newborn Nursery, etc.)
Trauma Team
Respiratory Care
Communications Center

FIELD ROTATIONS

As part of the program, students complete field clinical course work with a number of excellent emergency medical services agencies in the metropolitan Pittsburgh area including the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety, Bureau of EMS, and STAT MedEvac. The field and clinical training enables students to apply their knowledge and clinical skills in the out-of-hospital environment. Each student is assigned an experienced paramedic who will serve as a preceptor and mentor during each term. At the successful completion of the didactic and clinical courses, students are required to complete an 80 hour Summative Field Evaluation. This summative evaluation provides students the opportunity to serve as a team leader and to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in the role of an entry level paramedic.

Clinical Education