Currently we have closed this programme.

BACKGROUND

As EMS Legislation has become a reality in India in the state of Gujarat, formal state wide EMS (Emergency Medical Services) system will evolve. EMS legislation will mandate training of personnel involved in emergency care and a cadre of trained personnel will be required to man the ambulances and emergency department at various hospitals providing emergency care.

The modern Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system has been developed to provide what is known as “Prehospital” or “out-of-hospital” care.  Its purpose is to get trained personnel to the patient as quickly as possible and to provide emergency care on the scene, en route to the hospital, and at the hospital.  The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is a key member of the EMS team.

Internationally, there are set standards for the skills and knowledge which an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician)  should possess in order to provide life support to the patient before he reaches the hospital. There is a licensing authority to certify their training and required skill set. There are paramedic Schools which provide basic education and training to the EMT at different level.

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

There are no Paramedic Schools in India and no formal agreement on the standards of education that needs to be provided to EMT in India. “First National Consultation of Trauma System Development in India” held by Government of Gujarat and attended by national and international experts, medical colleges, public health experts and WHO representatives debated on this issue. WHO guidelines were reviewed at this consultation and consensus was reached on the level of training that should be imparted to EMT in India.

Further to this the EMT training institutions in USA were approached and partnership with New York EMS with Long Island Jewish Health System, USA was worked out. A preliminary field visits by US faculty was facilitated by R. Tolat-Apollo Institute of Health Sciences in March 2006. This included hospital visits, meeting with EMS Council of Ahmedabad, interview of the field personnel and inspection of ambulances. The US faculty also met Commissioner of Health, Government of Gujarat. Subsequently in consultation with local experts the curriculum was developed keeping in mind the local requirements and capabilities. The curriculum is described later in the document.

 FACULTY

The faculty for EMT course include senior US and Indian faculty members.

The US faculty include the following:

Dr. Dario Gonzalez (Medical Director, EMS New York)
Dr. Peter Moyer (Medical Director, EMS Boston)
Dr. Kinjal Nanavati Sethuraman (Associate Director, International EM, NY LIJ Hospital)

The Indian faculty pool consists of about 20 local experts who offer NTMC and ACLS courses for doctors in India. They include

COURSE STRUCTURE, ELIGIBILITY & ENDORSEMENT

The Emergency Medical Technician Course is a 6 months full time course which includes 3 months internship with emergency departments at the leading hospitals in Ahmedabad under supervision of the faculty. First three months are devoted to class room teaching with skill training on models and manikins.

Eligibility requirements are Graduation in any streams or Registered Nursing diploma.

The course is endorsed and jointly certified by Long Island Jewish Health System and R. Tolat-Apollo Institute of Health Sciences.