EMSP-244 Cardiovascular Emergencies
Students will be able to integrate cardiovascular anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiological principles and assessment findings reflective of the Emergency Cardiac Care Standards and Recommendations 2010 to formulate a field impression and implement the treatment plan and transport decision for the patient with a cardiovascular emergency or complaint. Students must maintain licensure as a Nationally Registered EMT-I99 (Maryland CRT 99) for the duration of the course and during Paramedic testing.
Hours Weekly
3 hours weekly
Course Objectives
- 1. Apply the epidemiology, incidence, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease to actual and
simulated patient encounters. - 2. Apply autonomic and sympathetic nervous system controls of the function of the heart to ECG
rhythm interpretation. - 3. Assess signs, symptoms, and pathophysiology to synthesize a treatment plan for a patient with
a cardiac complaint, complaint of chest pain, or history of cardiac disease. - 4. Apply medications commonly used by cardiac patients in actual and simulated patient
encounters. - 5. Prepare and safely administer emergency medications used in the treatment of cardiovascular
emergencies. - 6. Compare characteristics of implanted pacemakers, automated internal cardiac defibrillators, and
vest-type defibrillators. - 7. Formulate a treatment plan for managing malfunctions of implanted pacemakers, automated
internal cardiac defibrillators, and vest-type defibrillators. - 8. Manage actual or simulated patients which have left ventricular assist devices, external pumps,
and other artificial cardiac support devices and formulate a treatment plan for managing
malfunctions of these devices. - 9. Demonstrate the acquisition of a 4, 12, 15, and 18 lead electrocardiogram (ECG).
- 10. Interpret a 4, 12, 15, and 18 lead ECG.
- 11. Identify the various types of cardiac dysrhythmias from a variety of ECG tracings.
- 12. Apply the indications for the safe use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED),
synchronized and unsynchronized manual defibrillator, and a transcutaneous pacing device in
actual and simulated patient encounters. - 13. Manage the care of a patient with symptomatic bradycardia, tachycardia, and lethal
dysrhythmias. - 14. Recognize the signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest and manage the patient according to the
most current guidelines.
- 15. Apply the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of vascular diseases and use the
information to synthesize a treatment, transport mode, and appropriate destination for actual
and simulated patient encounters.
Course Objectives
- 1. Apply the epidemiology, incidence, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease to actual and
simulated patient encounters. - 2. Apply autonomic and sympathetic nervous system controls of the function of the heart to ECG
rhythm interpretation. - 3. Assess signs, symptoms, and pathophysiology to synthesize a treatment plan for a patient with
a cardiac complaint, complaint of chest pain, or history of cardiac disease. - 4. Apply medications commonly used by cardiac patients in actual and simulated patient
encounters. - 5. Prepare and safely administer emergency medications used in the treatment of cardiovascular
emergencies. - 6. Compare characteristics of implanted pacemakers, automated internal cardiac defibrillators, and
vest-type defibrillators. - 7. Formulate a treatment plan for managing malfunctions of implanted pacemakers, automated
internal cardiac defibrillators, and vest-type defibrillators. - 8. Manage actual or simulated patients which have left ventricular assist devices, external pumps,
and other artificial cardiac support devices and formulate a treatment plan for managing
malfunctions of these devices. - 9. Demonstrate the acquisition of a 4, 12, 15, and 18 lead electrocardiogram (ECG).
- 10. Interpret a 4, 12, 15, and 18 lead ECG.
- 11. Identify the various types of cardiac dysrhythmias from a variety of ECG tracings.
- 12. Apply the indications for the safe use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED),
synchronized and unsynchronized manual defibrillator, and a transcutaneous pacing device in
actual and simulated patient encounters. - 13. Manage the care of a patient with symptomatic bradycardia, tachycardia, and lethal
dysrhythmias. - 14. Recognize the signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest and manage the patient according to the
most current guidelines.
- 15. Apply the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of vascular diseases and use the
information to synthesize a treatment, transport mode, and appropriate destination for actual
and simulated patient encounters.