Paramedic Current Students

Welcome to Allied Health. We look forward to working with you as you begin your health program. This program website is a valuable source of information for you throughout your program. The goal is to have this website be the place to go for answers to your questions. Perhaps something new for you is the many compliance requirements that health care professionals need to meet and track. What follows is very detailed information and instructions on how and when requirements need to be met for your program.

When you are accepted to begin the technical courses of the program, it is strongly recommended for ALL students to begin program compliance requirements. The FINAL DUE DATE when ALL compliance requirements are to be met will be announced by your program faculty.

The following programs enter clinic in the first semester and early compliance is critical. It is to your advantage to complete compliance prior to the first day of classes.

• Dental Assisting
• Dental Hygiene
• Nursing

The following programs enter lab/clinic in the second semester. You will be given a deadline for compliance completion in your first semester.

• Dental Technology
• Electroneurodiagnostic Technology
• Health Information Technology/Medical Coding
• Paramedic
• Medical Assisting
• Medical Transcription
• Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Physical Therapist Assistant
• Respiratory Therapist
• Surgical Technology

These compliance standards may be required for your clinical lab assignments at this time (READ all compliance information carefully before taking action):

• Health insurance
• CPR for Healthcare Providers
• HIPAA confidentiality training
• Background check
• Immunizations Information

• Due: 2-4 weeks prior to summer semester. Failure to have physical and immunization records completed by this time may result in removal from the program and placement on the bottom of the wait list.
• Make an appointment with your healthcare practitioner and take the Kirkwood physical and immunization forms to your healthcare practitioner for completion.
• The physical examination must not be older than one (1) year prior to the start of the program.
• All physical and immunization records are maintained through a third-party vended application. 
• Make a copy of all the records prior to submitting them.
• If you drop out of the regular sequence of a program or change programs a new physical will be required if the one on record is older than 1 year.

In order to participate in clinics and/or labs, you MUST be compliant with all requirement standards. Failure to do so will result in withdrawal from the program.

All students will be required to complete the following background checks: State of Iowa Criminal History, Nationwide Criminal History, State of Iowa Child Abuse Registry, State of Iowa Dependent Adult Abuse Registry, and Nationwide Sex Offender Index. See below for details:

Please note: ALL paramedic returning students must complete a new background check prior to re-entry into the program if it has been greater than three years since last enrolled.  

Process

• Background checks and immunization tracking are done through Certified Background.
• Background checks will be done during the first semester of the program.
• Students will receive specific instructions from the clinical coordinator on how to access the Certified Background website, set-up their own Certified Profile, and start the background check process.
• Cost in setting up the Certified Profile is currently $75.00.
• Background check results typically take 5-7 business days, but can take longer. Students, via their Certified Profile, are able to monitor the results of their background check.
• You may NOT use a previous background check from another source.
• If you drop out of the regular sequence of a program or change programs, you will be required to do a new background check.

Evidence of Criminal Activity

• If a background check returns with evidence of criminal activity, the student will be notified in writing and further information required.
• At that time the student’s information will be taken before the background check committee which is made up of internal Kirkwood staff members. The background check committee will then make the determination to approve or deny the student for clinical placement. If the student is denied they will be allowed to appeal that decision and will need to provide additional information to support their grounds for appeal. Their case will then be re-presented to the background check committee. Once the appeal has been heard, the student will be notified of the background check committee’s decision. If they are again denied clinical placement, the student has no further course of action. All information on background checks is strictly confidential and is not shared with the program director or instructors of the RCEMSE to maintain student confidentiality.

**NOTICE: If you have a criminal history and are concerned about whether you would meet the standards for clinical participation, you may have a background check completed prior to enrollment into the program. Contact Mike Robinson for more information regarding the pre-screen process.

In order to participate in clinical, you MUST be compliant with requirement standards. Failure to do so will result in withdrawal from clinical until background check process completed/verified.

Questions may be directed to Mike Robinson, clinical coordinator at 319-398-7179 or mike.robinson@kirkwood.edu only AFTER you have read these instructions.

• You must have current CPR training in order to be eligible for lab and clinical.
• As you prepare for the healthcare environment, you must take CPR that meets the standards for healthcare providers. READ CAREFULLY before scheduling a CPR class.
• Your training must be in the following:
  • American Heart Association (AHA) CPR for Healthcare Providers
• Submit a copy of your official signed CPR card with your k-number and program written on the document to Dixie Gusta. No substitute letters or unofficial cards will be accepted.
• You will be required to have a current CPR card on file through graduation.
• It is your responsibility to ensure current training.
• CPR cards expire the last day of the expiration month.
• Renewal training is available through Kirkwood Continuing Education.
• Expired CPR cards will require new training.

In order to participate in clinical and lab, you MUST be compliant with requirement standards. Failure to do so will result in withdrawal from lab/clinic until current CPR certification can be verified/confirmed.

Questions may be directed to Mike Robinson, clinical coordinator at 319-398-7179 or mike.robinson@kirkwood.edu only AFTER you have read these instructions.

Many clinical sites require proof of student health insurance prior to allowing students to participate in clinical activities. It is therefore strongly recommended that all students carry health insurance in order to maximize opportunities to complete program clinical requirements.

Students will be notified by the clinical coordinator if proof of health insurance is needed prior to attending clinical at a specific site. If proof is needed, a copy of the front and back of the insurance card is required. If the insurance card is not in the student’s name, please indicate on the copy what the relationship of the card holder is to the student. An Iowa Care card &/or Medicaid card meets the insurance standard.
In order to participate in clinical you MUST be compliant with requirement standards. Failure to do so will result in withdrawal from clinical until current health insurance can be verified/confirmed.
Questions may be directed to Mike Robinson, clinical coordinator at 319-398-7179 or mike.robinson@kirkwood.edu only AFTER you have read these instructions.

Students will be given instructions on accessing the HIPPA training during their first semester in the program. Once directed to do this, the training is available online using Talon.

In order to participate in clinical, you MUST be compliant with requirement standards. Failure to do so will result in withdrawal from clinical until successful completion of HIPPA Training can be verified/confirmed.

Questions may be directed to Mike Robinson, clinical coordinator at 319-398-7179 or mike.robinson@kirkwood.edu only AFTER you have read these instructions.

Summer:

General Education Courses:
ENG-105 Composition I*

Fall:

General Education Courses:
BCA-189 Microcomputer Literacy*
*Courses may be taken before beginning the technical courses of the program. Synonym #'s are listed in parentheses to use for express registration in MyHub.

Course registration information for Paramedic program is located below.  Please read the following information that will be helpful when registering for your next semester classes:

• Priority registration information has been sent to you via email and postal mail for the upcoming semester.
• Registration for classes is done through MyHub.
• Please choose ONE group and register for all courses listed, unless you are advised by program faculty to do otherwise.
• Remember to run your degree audit (through MyHub) to ensure you are on track for graduation.
• Questions? Call 319-398-5566 or come to the Allied Health Department in 221 Linn Hall for assistance.

Publication of Student Outcomes - Paramedic

Yearly Average Student Results (2020)

• NREMT/State Written Exam: 89.5%
• Retention: 79.2%
• Positive (Job) Placement: 89.5%

The Regional Center for EMS Education (RCEMSE) was formed as a partnership between Kirkwood Community College, Mercy Medical Center, Area Ambulance Service, and St Luke's Hospital. By combining resources, the RCEMSE is able to offer high quality, accessible EMS education programs in the seven county area served by Kirkwood Community College. Today our programs have grown and changed. The Paramedic Program is accredited by CAAHEP. For more information on our course click on the links. The RCEMSE Staff are located in the Katz Family Healthcare Simulation Center.

For more information about any of the programs listed below please contact the listed program director. 

Clarissa Huilman

• Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
• Emergency Medical Technician(EMT)
• CPR/First Aid
• American Heart Association Courses

Brian Rechkemmer

• Advanced Emergency Medical Technician(AEMT)
• Paramedic
• EMS Continuing Education