Standard

EMS 134 - Medical Emergencies

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Course Description

Provides an in-depth study of the nervous, endocrine, gastrointestinal, renal, hematopoietic, and immune systems. Topics include epidemiology, pathophysiology, assessment, and management of specific injuries/illnesses. Emphasis is placed on allergies/anaphylaxis, toxicology, environmental emergencies, and infectious and communicable diseases. General/specific pathophysiology assessment and management are discussed in detail for environmental emergencies. Infectious and communicable disease topics include public health principles, public health agencies, infection, pathogenicity, infectious agents, and specific infectious disease processes and their management. This course provides instruction on topics in Division 5 (Medical), Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the USDOT/NHTSA Paramedic National Standard Curriculum.

Competency Areas	Hours
Assessment/Management of the Following Emergencies:	Class	4
Neurological, Endocrine, Gastrointestinal, Renal, Hematopoietic	D. Lab	1
Assessment/Management of Allergic Reaction/Anaphylaxis	P. Lab/O.B.I.	0
Assessment/Management of Toxicological and Environmental Emergencies	Credit	4
Assessment/Management/Access to Public Health Organizations for Infectious/Communicable diseases

Prerequisites:	AHS 101, EMS 126, EMS 127, EMS 128, EMS 129
Corequisite:	None

Course Guide

Competency	After completing this section, the student will:	Hours
		Class	D.Lab	P.Lab/ O.B.I.
ASSESSMENT/MANAGEMENT OF THE FOLLOWING EMERGENCIES: NEUROLOGICAL, ENDOCRINE, GASTRO-INTESTINAL, RENAL, HEMATOPOIETIC		28	0	0
Neurological Emergencies	Describe the incidence, morbidity and mortality of neurological emergencies.
	Identify the risk factors most predisposing to the nervous system.
	Discuss the anatomy and physiology of the organs and structures related to the nervous system.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of non-traumatic neurologic emergencies.
	Discuss the assessment findings associated with non-traumatic neurologic emergencies.
	Identify the need for rapid intervention and the transport of the patient with non-traumatic emergencies.
	Discuss the management of non-traumatic neurological emergencies.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of coma and altered mental status.
	Discuss the assessment findings associated with coma and altered mental status.
	Discuss the management/treatment plan of coma and altered mental status.
	Describe the epidemiology, including the morbidity/ mortality and prevention strategies, for seizures.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of seizures.
	Discuss the assessment findings associated with seizures.
	Define seizure.
	Describe and differentiate the major types of seizures.
	List the most common causes of seizures.
	Describe the phases of a generalized seizure.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of syncope.
	Discuss the assessment findings associated with syncope.
	Discuss the management/treatment plan of syncope.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of headache.
	Discuss the assessment findings associated with headache.
	Discuss the management/treatment plan of headache.
	Describe the epidemiology, including the morbidity/ mortality and prevention strategies, for neoplasms.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of neoplasms.
	Describe the types of neoplasms.
	Discuss the assessment findings associated with neoplasms.
	Discuss the management/treatment plan of neoplasms.
	Define neoplasms.
	Recognize the signs and symptoms related to neoplasms.
	Correlate abnormal assessment findings with clinical significance in the patient with neoplasms.
	Differentiate among the various treatment and pharmacological interventions used in the management of neoplasms.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with neoplasms.
	Describe the epidemiology, including the morbidity/ mortality and prevention strategies, for abscess.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of abscess.
	Discuss the assessment findings associated with abscess.
	Discuss the management/treatment plan of abscess.
	Define abscess.
	Recognize the signs and symptoms related to abscess.
	Correlate abnormal assessment findings with clinical significance in the patient with abscess.
	Differentiate among the various treatment and pharmacological interventions used in the management of abscess.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with abscess.
	Describe the epidemiology, including the morbidity/ mortality and prevention strategies, for stroke and intracranial hemorrhage.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of stroke and intracranial hemorrhage.
	Describe the types of stroke and intracranial hemorrhage.
	Discuss the assessment findings associated with stroke and intracranial hemorrhage.
	Discuss the management/treatment plan of stroke and intracranial hemorrhage.
	Define stroke and intracranial hemorrhage.
	Recognize the signs and symptoms related to stroke and intracranial hemorrhage.
	Correlate abnormal assessment findings with clinical significance in the patient with stroke and intracranial hemorrhage.
	Differentiate among the various treatment and pharmacological interventions used in the management of stroke and intracranial hemorrhage.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with stroke and intracranial hemorrhage.
	Describe the epidemiology, including the morbidity/ mortality and prevention strategies, for transient ischemic attack.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of transient ischemic attack.
	Discuss the assessment findings associated with transient ischemic attack.
	Discuss the management/treatment plan of transient ischemic attack.
	Define transient ischemic attack.
	Recognize the signs and symptoms related to transient ischemic attack.
	Correlate abnormal assessment findings with clinical significance in the patient with transient ischemic attack.
	Differentiate among the various treatment and pharmacological interventions used in the management of transient ischemic attack.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with transient ischemic attack.
	Describe the epidemiology, including the morbidity/ mortality and prevention strategies, for degenerative neurological diseases.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of degenerative neurological diseases.
	Discuss the assessment findings associated with degenerative neurological diseases.
	Discuss the management/treatment plan of degenerative neurological diseases.
	Define the following: a. Muscular dystrophy b. Multiple sclerosis c. Dystonia d. Parkinson’s disease e. Trigeminal neuralgia f. Bell’s palsy g. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis h. Peripheral neuropathy i. Myoclonus j. Spina bifida k. Poliomyelitis
	Recognize the signs and symptoms related to degenerative neurological diseases.
	Correlate abnormal assessment findings with clinical significance in the patient with degenerative neurological diseases.
	Differentiate among the various treatment and pharmacological interventions used in the management of degenerative neurological diseases.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with degenerative neurological diseases.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles of the patient with a neurological emergency.
	Differentiate between neurological emergencies based on assessment findings.
	Correlate abnormal assessment findings with the clinical significance in the patient with neurological complaints.
	Develop a patient management plan based on field impression in the patient with neurological emergencies.
Endocrinology emergencies	Describe the incidence, morbidity and mortality of endocrinologic emergencies.
	Identify the risk factors most predisposing to endocrinologic disease.
	Discuss the anatomy and physiology of organs and structures related to endocrinologic diseases.
	Review the pathophysiology of endocrinologic emergencies.
	Discuss the general assessment findings associated with endocrinologic emergencies.
	Identify the need for rapid intervention of the patient with endocrinologic emergencies.
	Discuss the management of endocrinologic emergencies.
	Describe osmotic diuresis and its relationship to diabetes.
	Describe the pathophysiology of adult onset diabetes mellitus.
	Describe the pathophysiology of juvenile onset diabetes mellitus.
	Describe the effects of decreased levels of insulin on the body.
	Correlate abnormal findings in assessment with clinical significance in the patient with a diabetic emergency.
	Discuss the management of diabetic emergencies.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with a diabetic emergency.
	Differentiate between the pathophysiology of normal glucose metabolism and diabetic glucose metabolism.
	Describe the mechanism of ketone body formation and its relationship to ketoacidosis.
	Discuss the physiology of the excretion of potassium and ketone bodies by the kidneys.
	Describe the relationship of insulin to serum glucose levels.
	Describe the effects of decreased levels of insulin on the body.
	Describe the effects of increased serum glucose levels on the body.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of hypoglycemia.
	Discuss the utilization of glycogen by the human body as it relates to the pathophysiology of hypoglycemia.
	Describe the actions of epinephrine as it relates to the pathophysiology of hypoglycemia.
	Recognize the signs and symptoms of the patient with hypoglycemia.
	Describe the compensatory mechanisms utilized by the body to promote homeostasis relative to hypoglycemia.
	Describe the management of a responsive hypoglycemic patient.
	Correlate abnormal findings in assessment with clinical significance in the patient with hypoglycemia.
	Discuss the management of the hypoglycemic patient.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with hypoglycemia.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of hyperglycemia.
	Recognize the signs and symptoms of the patient with hyperglycemia.
	Describe the management of hyperglycemia.
	Correlate abnormal findings in assessment with clinical significance in the patient with hyperglycemia.
	Discuss the management of the patient with hyperglycemia.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with hyperglycemia.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of nonketotic hyperosmolar coma.
	Recognize the signs and symptoms of the patient with nonketotic hyperosmolar coma.
	Describe the management of nonketotic hyperosmolar coma.
	Correlate abnormal findings in assessment with clinical significance in the patient with nonketotic hyperosmolar coma.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with nonketotic hyperosmolar coma.
	Discuss the management of the patient with hyperglycemia.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with hyperglycemia.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of diabetic ketoacidosis.
	Recognize the signs and symptoms of the patient with diabetic ketoacidosis.
	Describe the management of diabetic ketoacidosis.
	Correlate abnormal findings in assessment with clinical significance in the patient with diabetic ketoacidosis.
	Discuss the management of the patient with diabetic ketoacidosis.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with diabetic ketoacidosis.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of thyrotoxicosis.
	Recognize signs and symptoms of the patient with thyrotoxicosis.
	Discuss the management of the patient with thyrotoxicosis.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with thyrotoxicosis.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of myxedema.
	Recognize signs and symptoms of the patient with myxedema.
	Describe the management of myxedema.
	Correlate abnormal findings in assessment with clinical significance in the patient with myxedema.
	Discuss the management of the patient with myxedema.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with myxedema.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of Cushing's syndrome.
	Recognize signs and symptoms of the patient with Cushing's syndrome.
	Describe the management of Cushing's syndrome.
	Correlate abnormal findings in assessment with clinical significance in the patient with Cushing's syndrome.
	Discuss the management of the patient with Cushing’s syndrome.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with Cushing's syndrome.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of adrenal insufficiency.
	Recognize signs and symptoms of the patient with adrenal insufficiency.
	Describe the management of adrenal insufficiency.
	Correlate abnormal findings in assessment with clinical significance in the patient with adrenal insufficiency.
	Discuss the management of the patient with adrenal insufficiency.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles and the assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with adrenal insufficiency.
	Integrate the pathophysiological principles to the assessment of a patient with an endocrinological emergency.
	Differentiate between endocrine emergencies based on assessment and history.
	Correlate abnormal findings in the assessment with clinical significance in the patient with endocrinologic emergencies.
	Develop a patient management plan based on field impression in the patient with an endocrinologic emergency.
Gastrointestinal emergencies	Describe the incidence, morbidity and mortality of gastrointestinal emergencies.
	Identify the risk factors most predisposing to gastrointestinal emergencies.
	Discuss the anatomy and physiology of the organs and structures related to gastrointestinal diseases.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of inflammation and its relationship to acute abdominal pain.
	Define somatic pain as it relates to gastroenterology.
	Define visceral pain as it relates to gastroenterology.
	Define referred pain as it relates to gastroenterology.
	Differentiate between hemorrhagic and non-hemorrhagic abdominal pain.
	Discuss the signs and symptoms of local inflammation relative to acute abdominal pain.
	Discuss the signs and symptoms of peritoneal inflammation relative to acute abdominal pain.
	List the signs and symptoms of general inflammation relative to acute abdominal pain.
	Based on assessment findings, differentiate between local, peritoneal and general inflammation as they relate to acute abdominal pain.
	Describe the questioning technique and specific questions the paramedic should ask when gathering a focused history in a patient with abdominal pain.
	Describe the technique for performing a comprehensive physical examination on a patient complaining of abdominal pain.
	Define upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
	Recognize the signs and symptoms related to upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
	Describe the management for upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
	Integrate pathophysiological principles and assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with upper GI bleeding.
	Define lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
	Recognize the signs and symptoms related to lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
	Describe the management for lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
	Integrate pathophysiological principles and assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with lower GI bleeding.
	Define acute gastroenteritis.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of acute gastroenteritis.
	Recognize the signs and symptoms related to acute gastroenteritis.
	Describe the management for acute gastroenteritis.
	Integrate pathophysiological principles and assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with acute gastroenteritis.
	Define colitis.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of colitis.
	Recognize the signs and symptoms related to colitis.
	Describe the management for colitis.
	Integrate pathophysiological principles and assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with colitis.
	Define gastroenteritis.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of gastroenteritis.
	Recognize the signs and symptoms related to gastroenteritis.
	Describe the management for gastroenteritis.
	Integrate pathophysiological principles and assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with gastroenteritis.
	Define diverticulitis.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of diverticulitis.
	Recognize the signs and symptoms related to diverticulitis.
	Describe the management for diverticulitis.
	Integrate pathophysiological principles and assessment findings to formulate a field impression and implement a treatment plan for the patient with diverticulitis.
	Define appendicitis.
	Discuss the pathophysiology of appendicitis.
	Recognize the signs and symptoms related to appendicitis.
	Describe the management for appendicitis.