Paramedic Program

Applications are now being accepted for Blessing Health’s nationally certified paramedic training program! 

The 14-month program begins August 5 and will meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Those interested in the program should begin the application process as soon as possible by contacting Blessing EMS Education Coordinator Derek Wells at 217-223-8400, ext. 6591.

GOAL

"To prepare Paramedics who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession."

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Small Classes: Means individualized attention. We are dedicated to the success of our students and can offer tutoring and other assistance. 

Curriculum: Meets current Illinois Department of Public Health rules and regulations as well as National EMS Education Standards. 

Experienced faculty: Key faculty have years of experience in EMS and teaching.

Earn a Degree: This program is taught in conjunction with John Wood Community College (JWCC) for college credit. After successful completion of all core EMS courses, clinical and skills (39 credit hours), the student is eligible to sit for the National Registry Paramedic exam. A Certificate or Associate Degree is offered through JWCC with completion of additional courses. (Click here to read more about the courses.) Students should plan to complete either the Certificate or the Associate Degree by the end of the program.

CURRICULUM

This curriculum meets current Illinois Department of Public Health rules and regulations as well as National EMS Education Standards.

The program is sequenced to ensure that skill labs, hospital clinical rotations and field clinical phases follow a logical progression after didactic material has been covered.

Class typically meets Monday and Wednesdays with minimal to no breaks between semesters.

HOSPITAL CLINICAL (minimum 248 hours)

Clinicals average 8-12 hours per week throughout the program. This is in addition to didactic hours.

Hospital clinical includes a variety of rotations including Laboratory, Emergency Department, Surgery, ICU, CVU, Cath Lab, Respiratory, Pediatrics, OB, Psychiatric Services, and Skills Labs. The rotations include a variety of clinical objectives.

FIELD CLINICAL (minimum 304 hours)

Includes two distinct phases during which the students master a variety of clinical objectives while under the supervision of trained preceptors called Field Evaluators.

The Field Experience Phase allows students to engage in a variety of calls while being assigned specific tasks including patient assessment, communication, documentation, delegation, formulation of field impressions and development of treatment plans.

Capstone Field Internship is the final phase of clinical after all other program requirements are met. The student is evaluated while functioning in the role of team leader.

PARAMEDIC PROGRAM WITH OUTCOMES

CAAHEP-accredited Paramedic educational programs and CoAEMSP Letter of Review (LoR) Paramedic educational programs track and report outcome measures annually to the Committee on Accreditation for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

The most current CoAEMSP Annual Report was for the calendar year 2022.

There were no graduates during the 2022 reporting year. 

PROGRAM COSTS

For the most current costs and financial aid information contact John Wood Community College.

TO APPLY

• Paramedic Program Application Packet
• Paramedic Program Application Form

ARE YOU READY FOR SUCCESS?

Contact a member of our Blessing Hospital EMS Department:

Erin Roberts, Program Director
217-223-8400 ext. 6594
erin.roberts@blessinghealth.org

Derek Wells, Clinical Coordinator
217-223-8400 ext. 6591
derek.wells@blessinghealth.org

ACCREDITATION STATUS

The Blessing Hospital Paramedic program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

To contact CAAHEP:

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org

To contact CoAEMSP:
(214) 703-8445
www.coaemsp.org