Outcomes and Opportunities
The College of the Desert Paramedic Program has been issued a Letter of Review (LoR) by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
The Letter of Review is NOT a CAAHEP accreditation status, but it indicates that a program seeking initial accreditation has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the accreditation standards through the Letter of Review Self-Study Report (LSSR) and supporting documentation.
Programs holding a Letter of Review are recognized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) for the purpose of determining eligibility to take the National Registry Paramedic credentialing examination(s).
It is important to understand that the Letter of Review does not guarantee eventual accreditation. Rather, it indicates that the program is actively progressing through the accreditation
process and is operating in accordance with established national standards for paramedic
education.
The College of the Desert Paramedic Program is designed to prepare graduates who are competent in the three learning domains required for entry-level paramedic practice:
• Cognitive (Knowledge)
Graduates demonstrate a strong understanding of paramedic-level medical knowledge including anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, patient assessment, and advanced life support treatment strategies.
• Psychomotor (Skills)
Graduates demonstrate proficiency in the technical and procedural skills required of paramedics, including airway management, cardiac monitoring and interpretation, medication administration, advanced patient assessment, and other advanced life support interventions.
• Affective (Behavior)
Graduates demonstrate professional behaviors consistent with the expectations of healthcare providers, including ethical decision-making, accountability, teamwork, compassion, and effective communication with patients and healthcare professionals.
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT)
Paramedic examination, which is required for paramedic licensure in the State of California.
Graduates of the College of the Desert Paramedic Program may pursue careers in a variety of healthcare and public safety settings, including:
• Municipal fire departments
• Private and public ambulance services
• Hospital emergency departments
• Air medical transport programs
• Tactical and specialized response teams
• Disaster response and emergency management organizations
Paramedics serve as critical members of the healthcare system, providing advanced
life support care in both prehospital and clinical environments.
The paramedic credential also provides opportunities for continued education and career advancement in related healthcare and public safety fields. Many paramedics pursue additional education in areas such as:
• Fire service leadership
• Emergency management
• Nursing
• Physician assistant studies
• Healthcare administration
• EMS education and program leadership
The College of the Desert Paramedic Program is committed to preparing graduates who are not only competent clinicians, but also professionals capable of contributing to the advancement of the EMS profession.
