Las Cruces – The Doña Ana Community College (DACC) Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic program (EMS) has been granted continuing accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Here is the information provided by DACC:
Pre-hospital emergency medical care is a vital service and provides an exciting career option for students. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics provide care for the sick and injured in emergency situations. These services are often essential for patient survival. EMS professionals may work at any of four different levels:
- EMS First Responder
- EMT–Basic
- EMT–Intermediate
- Paramedic
DACC offers all levels of EMS education. In addition, students can earn an associate of applied science degree at the paramedic level. After graduation at any of the levels, certification or licensure is required from the state of New Mexico and the federal government.
After passing course requirements and earning state and federal approval, students can work in several different emergency medical systems – such as fire departments, municipal services, private ambulance services, federal services, industry, hospital emergency departments, community-based medicine and hospital-based ambulance systems.
The continuing accreditation was part of a recent peer review. According to a letter from Carolyn O’Daniel EdD, RRT President of CAAHEP, the DACC program was “found in substantial compliance with the national established accreditation standards.” In addition, “the commission commends you and your colleagues for your commitment to continuous quality improvement in education as demonstrated by your participation in program accreditation.” The program’s next accreditation visit will occur no later than 2023.
New Emergency Medical Services Program Director Ann Bellows was pleased with the continuing accreditation. “Joyce Bradley, our previous program director, recently retired, but I know this was her priority for the past several years,” Bellows said. “We will continue to provide the excellent training this program is known for in serving the emergency medical services for first responders in Doña Ana County.”