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.

Credits

Prerequisite

EMSP 242 and EMSP 243

Corequisite

EMSP 245

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.