Critical Care Paramedic Course

Fall 2023

Saint Thomas Health Critical Care Paramedic Program will open the application process on August 1, 2023. Early qualifying applicants are given priority during class placement. All application material should be received no later than 4:30 PM, September 15, 2023. All application materials, questionnaires and tests must be completed no later than September 15, 2023.

All applicants should provide one letter of endorsement from their service director or supervisor who has knowledge of their clinical skills. The initial date of licensure should be included in the letter of endorsement. That date should be January 19, 2022 or earlier to be considered for the program.

Class Dates

Ascension Saint Thomas EMS registration for the next critical care paramedic course considers the current situation relative to group assemblages and vaccination requirements for clinical. Saint Thomas EMS continues to embrace the traditional classroom environment. We anticipate lectures that may utilize video and smaller skills sections and lectures. The course curriculum will still include Bob Page lectures (January 8-9), ventilator transport training, course content experts, and flight paramedic review. Fourteen lecture and skills days will be held on Fridays (TBA) beginning on January 19, 2024 with the State exam in April 2024. (All class times will be 0900-1700 hours). In addition to the classroom sessions, there will be approximately 60 hours of required hospital critical care rotations. The course fee is $900.00 per student which includes uniform, shirt, and course supplies. Reference copies of textbooks, Critical Care Transport by AAOS and NRP Program, will be provided. State licensure and testing fees are not included.

STHS Critical Care Paramedic Program Minimum Student Requirements:

Licensed Tennessee Paramedic with a minimum of 2 years field experience.
  • Current ACLS Certification AND Current PALS Certification
  • Current PHTLS or equivalent Certification
  • Current Healthcare provider CPR Card

Bob Page Seminar

A unique new element of the Saint Thomas EMS Critical Care Paramedic Program is the addition of Bob Page to instruct 12 lead Interpretation, Capnography and Stethoscopy.

Bob Page is an internationally known speaker, instructor, author and paramedic. He has presented seminars across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East and Japan. He is recognized for his energetic, humorous and motivational style. Bob takes ordinarily dry and hard to teach topics and transforms them into a fun, learning experience.

Multi-Lead Medics 12 Lead Interpretation Course- including:

  • Acquiring and Validating the 12 Lead ECG
  • The 15 Lead ECG (STEMI)
  • Axis and Hemiblock Determination
  • Bundle Branch Blocks
  • Wide Complex tachycardia
  • Wrap up and STEMI Finale

Capnography and Stethoscopy

  • Relevant A&P review
  • Technology Review and Waveform Interpretation
  • Real Clinical Applications
  • Stethoscopy Lab Sessions
  • Stethoscope Didactic
  • Breath Sounds Lab

Faculty

Instructors will be expert clinical specialists for each topic area and will include physicians, nurses, paramedics, respiratory therapists, and other clinical specialists with extensive experience in critical care. A sampling of past instructor quality includes:

Tim Myers, MD is the Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Saint Thomas West Hospital. Leading several critical course sections including managing difficult airways Dr. Myers is also the Course Medical Director for the Saint Thomas EMS Critical Care Program.

Eric Bruno, MD FAAEM is an emergency medicine physician serving multiple hospitals in the Nashville area including Saint Thomas Midtown and Saint Thomas Rutherford. He served four years on active duty in the United States Air Force on a Special Operations Surgical Team for the Air Force's Special Operations Command. Dr. Bruno currently serves as the Medical Director for Saint Thomas EMS and is an Associate Program Director of the University of Tennessee’s emergency medicine residency program at Saint Thomas Health.

Jason R. Hubbard, MD, FAANS, FACS is a neurosurgeon at the Howell-Allen Clinic, specializing is complex spinal cases. He is a neurological consultant for the Tennessee Titans. He works closely with The Howell Allen Clinic’s Sports Concussion Program providing comprehensive management of sports related concussions and by providing the ImPACT Concussion Management program to high schools and colleges throughout the middle Tennessee area.

Critical Care Transport Certification Review Course

The Saint Thomas Critical Care Paramedic Program is proud to host this quality review course. Review topics include:

  • CAMTS
  • Airway Management
  • Blood Gas Interpretation and ventilator management
  • Hemodynamics
  • Pediatrics, neonatology, and obstetrics
  • Trauma Management
  • Neurology
  • Cardiac disease management
  • Endocrine pathologies and management
  • Test taking strategies

For more information about the Critical Care Paramedic Program or Critical Care renewal hours, contact Eric Getner, 615-222-5602, stemsadmin@ascension.org

Submit your application