OVERVIEW
Over the past 30 years, the development of emergency medical
systems has significantly improved the caliber of emergency
care provided prior to hospital arrival. The Good Fellowship
EMS Training Institute, with the assistance of the Center
for Emergency Medicine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has developed
an education program for paramedics that prepare students
to meet the increasing demands of out-of-hospital care.
Emergency medicine professionals have developed the Good
Fellowship EMS Training Institute’s Paramedic education
program to equip students with the knowledge, skills and values
necessary to develop as medical professionals. Throughout
the program, students receive instruction in the art and science
of emergency medicine through lecture, lab, and clinical education
in the hospital and field. The curriculum involves students
in these components of education concurrently. This enables
paramedic students to master theory and practical application
quickly.
All of Good Fellowship’s EMS Training Institute’s
Paramedic Education programs are designed to provide students
with the knowledge and skills needed to provide high quality
emergency medical care. Good Fellowship’s EMS Training
Institute’s Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania Department of Health.
DIPLOMA IN EMERGENCY
MEDICINE
Good Fellowship’s EMS Training Institute offers a
paramedic diploma program designed to prepare paramedics
for entry-level
positions in urban, suburban, and rural Emergency Medical
Services throughout the country. The program meets two nights
a week and during the day on Saturdays over two semesters
and a third semester spent in a field internship. The program
is completed within 12 months. The dates for the upcoming
year are: September 2012 to August 2013.
BACHELOR DEGREE
IN HEALTH SCIENCES
The West Chester University School of Health Science offers
a Bachelor Degree in Health Sciences. This program is designed
to prepare leaders in health services throughout the country.
Students who complete the Good Fellowship EMS Training Institute
diploma program can apply their education toward a Bachelor
Degree at any time in the future. Students interested in pursuing
their paramedic certification as part of a Bachelor Degree
are encouraged to contact Dr. Jim Brenner at (610) 436-3357 or e-mail jbrenner@wcupa.edu for more information.
SPECIALTY CERTIFICATIONS
The curriculum has been designed to provide the student with
an opportunity to obtain certification in:
|
Basic Cardiac
Life Support (BCLS) |
Pediatric Advanced
Life Support (PALS) |
|
Advanced Assessment and Treatment of Trauma (ATT) |
Emergency
Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) |
|
Advanced Cardiac
Life Support (ACLS) |
Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS) |
| Geriatric Emergency Medicine (GEMS) |
Emergency Pediatric Care (EPC) |
CURRICULUM
Good Fellowship’s EMS Training Institute is using the
1998 Paramedic: National Standard Curriculum. This is the
most comprehensive curricula in the history of EMS and was
developed to prepare advanced level providers for the new
millennium. The course of study meets or exceeds all of the
minimum national and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania training
requirements. Upon graduation from the program, the students
will take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
EMT-Paramedic Examination. All exam fees are included in the
student's tuition.
The course of instruction consists of four phases of education:
didactic, laboratory, clinical/field and summative field internship.
The program consists of over 500 hours of didactic education
and laboratory education, and over 600 hours of clinical education.
The didactic material provides the foundation for understanding
the purpose and objectives of clinical treatments. We believe
that this is the distinction between the professional and
the technician. This philosophy provides the rationale for
the development of a comprehensive classroom curriculum.
Laboratory training provides a safe and effective opportunity
for students to develop psychomotor skills and apply concepts
to clinical decision-making. Good Fellowship’s EMS Training
Institute maintains an extensive array of training manikins,
models and equipment specifically for practice of the psychomotor
skills of patient care. We maintain a state-of-the-art computer
laboratory with the latest educational software and Internet
access.
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 Chester County’s respected emergency medical
services and health care facilities.
At the successful completion of the didactic and clinical
courses, students are required to complete a 120 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.
As part of the program, students complete field clinical
course work with various EMS units located throughout Chester
County. 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.
While in training, each student completes in-hospital clinical
experience in the following areas:
Emergency Department
Critical Care (Coronary
Care Unit, Trauma ICU, Cardiovascular Surgery ICU, etc.)
Burn Care
Morgue
Operating Room/Recovery
Room/Anesthesia
Intravenous Team/Phlebotomy
Pediatrics
Psychiatric
Obstetrics/Gynecology
(Labor Suite, Delivery Room, Newborn Nursery, etc.)
Trauma Team
Respiratory Care
FACULTY
William M. Wells Sr., B.S., NREMT-P
Program Administrative Director
Mr. Wells oversees all aspects of Good Fellowship Ambulance and EMS Training Institute. Mr. Wells has been a paramedic for twelve years and is a Pennsylvania certified EMS instructor. Mr. Wells received his B.S. in Health Sciences from West Chester University. Mr. Wells is a past president of the Chester County EMS Council and presently participates on the PEHSC Board of Directors.
Fred W. Wurster III, A.A.S, NREMT-P
Director of Training
As the Director of Training, Mr. Wurster oversees all of the education programs at the Good Fellowship EMS Training Institute including: ALS, BLS, Community Education, and member training. Mr. Wurster has been a nationally registered paramedic for eleven years and is a Pennsylvania certified EMS instructor as well as Pennsylvania State Fire Academy Non-Suppression Instructor. Mr. Wurster has been involved in the EMS and Fire service for 20 years in both the career and volunteer setting throughout Chester County. Mr. Wurster is a technical editor for JEMS Magazine as well being a member of the editorial review board for the National Association of EMS Educators.
Jerry L. Peters, B.S., NREMT-P
ALS Program Director
As the Program Director, Mr. Peters is responsible for the
management and supervision of the course. He is responsible
for scheduling all instructors and field preceptors. As well
as being responsible for site visits of all clinical and
field
sites throughout the county. Finally, he is ultimately assigned
the task of preparing each student for their new role as
a
Paramedic when they graduate from the course. Mr. Peters
has been a paramedic for over 20 years and is a Pennsylvania
certified
EMS Instructor. He is Regional Faculty for the American
Heart Association and an instructor trainer in basic cardiac
life
support (BCLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), and
pediatric advanced life support (PALS). Mr. Peters received
his B.S. in Health Sciences and minor in Instructional Media
from West Chester University.
Robert Girardeau, B.S., NREMT-P
Clinical Site Coordinator
We are proud to announce Robert as the new ALS Program Clinical Coordinator, effective April of 2011. While Robert is the newest member of our education team, he brings a wealth of passion, knowledge and resources with him. Robert’s primary responsibility is to ensure that the clinical experience of the ALS Program here at GFTI is as educational, enriching, and rewarding as possible for each student. One of Robert’s other roles will be to see that each pre-hospital clinical site finds its time serving with our students a rewarding experience as well. Robert attended the prestigious Messiah College in Grantham, PA and earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology where he specialized in emergency medicine and education. While studying at Messiah he obtained his EMT-B and began to serve the greater Harrisburg, PA area in that capacity. Soon after graduating in 2006, Robert attended HACC and obtained a post-bachelor’s certification in Paramedicine. Since that time, Robert has quickly made a name for himself as a passionate paramedic and a dedicated educator. Robert’s desire to grow and improve EMS is surpassed by few and will surely serve as a great asset to our training institute and organization. We are very excited to have Robert now serving with the Training Institute faculty and staff.
Beverly A. Mikuriya, M.D.
Medical Director
In her role as Medical Director, Dr. Mikuriya oversees all
aspects of the didactic education. Dr. Mikuriya is an attending
physician and former Chairman for the Department of Emergency
Medicine at the Chester County Hospital. Dr. Mikuriya has
over thirty years of experience and is a member of the American
Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Emergency
Medicine. Dr. Mikuriya received her M.D. from Temple University
School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dianne G. Lanham, M.S.N., R.N., C.P.H.Q.
Program Counselor
Ms. Lanham provides counseling and support services for students
enrolled in the Good Fellowship EMS Training Institute’s
Paramedic Program. Ms. Lanham is the Patient Safety and Quality
Officer for the Chester County Hospital. She has also held
the positions of Process Improvement Coordinator, Mental Health
Instructor, Administrative Supervisor, and Nurse Manager for
the Emergency Department. She is a Certified Professional
for Health Care Quality and has over thirty-five years nursing
experience. She received her Masters in Nursing from Widener
University, Chester, PA.
FACILITIES
The Good Fellowship EMS Training Institute has specially
designed classroom facilities for all EMS Programs. The classroom
space was built to permit maximum educational flexibility
and versatility. The lecture room contains current state of
the art technology. The practical room was designed to accommodate
practical exercises, skills practice, and scenario training.
The practical room is furnished with the most advanced medical
equipment available. With these resources readily accessible,
the student receives both didactic instruction and considerable
hands-on practice.
The Institute has a student computer lab and an extensive
array of computer-aided instructional programs.
The Institute maintains a library of the most up-to-date
resources in emergency medicine. The library contains an extensive
collection of medical texts, journals, and instructional videotapes
on emergency medical topics. These resources are available
for students to enhance their knowledge in areas of special
interest.
TUITION/FEES
Please contact for additional
information on tuition.
* The Region is considered the Chester County Regional EMS
Council and covers residents and employees in Chester County.
**Residency is determined by the student's permanent address
6 months prior to the start of the program.
Tuition is subject to change.
APPLICATION
PROCESS
Since admission to the Good Fellowship EMS Training Institute
program is competitive, seats are limited. We highly suggest
that you apply early.
To be eligible for enrollment in any of Good Fellowship EMS
Training Institute’s Paramedic Programs, the applicant
must be:
-
Pass a Pre-Entrance Evaluation (EMT-Basic Exam conducted by
GFTI)
-
18 years of age or older
-
A High School graduate (or equivalent)
-
Currently certified as an EMT in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania or a Nationally Registered EMT*
-
Capable of all duties and requirements as described on
the
Functional Job Description
of the Paramedic **
To apply to the program, the candidate must submit a completed
application. A completed application will include:
-
High school and/or college transcripts. If applicants
have earned more than an equivalent of 60 college credits,
a high school transcript is not necessary
-
Two sealed letters of evaluation.
(Return Letters in provided envelopes with application or
under separate cover)
-
Copy of current EMT certification and BCLS certification.
Students are admitted to the program based on their academic
history, personal statement, two letters of evaluation, and
a phone interview conducted by the Institute.
After you are formally accepted by the Institute, you will
be contacted by mail as to your acceptance into the training
program. If you are accepted, a $300.00 deposit will be required
to hold your seat in class. This deposit will be put toward
your tuition and is non-refundable. You are required
to be certified as an EMT (Pennsylvania or National Registry)
and have a physical exam (including blood work) completed
to start the program. If you are not accepted into
the program, a letter of explanation will be sent. Most applicants
will be given the opportunity to resubmit an application for
acceptance into a future paramedic training program.
* Students with EMT certification from other states who are
not Nationally Registered must apply for Pennsylvania certification.
The reciprocity process typically takes 6-8 weeks to complete.
Depending on the origin of the student’s certification,
it may be necessary for students to take a state-administered
written and/or practical exam. Out-of-state students should
contact: Chester County Department of Emergency Services;
601 Westtown Road, West Chester, PA 19380, (610) 344-5000
immediately upon being admitted to the Institute. All out
of country students, whether they are Nationally Registered
or not, will need to take the Pennsylvania Exam.
If you are currently enrolled in an EMT Program, you can
still submit your application and write “pending”
where the application asks for your EMT Certification number.
Prehospital experience is strongly recommended but not required.
If students are interested in receiving experience prior to
the program, an EMT Internship is available.
** In accordance with the State of Pennsylvania EMS training
guidelines, the student must possess the sensory acuity and
the physical ability to perform all of the diagnostic, therapeutic,
and communication functions of a paramedic. Please contact
the Institute for a Functional Job Description of the Paramedic
and a detailed list of the sensory and physical requirements
for the Paramedic program.
NON-DISCRIMINATION
POLICY
The Good Fellowship Ambulance & EMS Training Institute,
as a health care provider, educational institution, and as
an employer, values equality of opportunity, human dignity,
and racial / ethnic and cultural diversity. Accordingly, the
Center prohibits and will not engage in discrimination or
harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national
origin, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, familial status,
sexual orientation, disability, or status as a disabled veteran
or a veteran of the Vietnam era.
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