Emergency Care & Rescue Results of Assessment

The Emergency Care and Rescue program offers both certificate of completion and A.A.S. at Weber State University. National Accreditation has required the process of Outcomes Assessment as a tool for program evaluation, validity and reliability for the past six years. Each year provides an update of information.

The EC&R program uses evaluations from faculty, the physician medical director, employers, graduates and standardized examinations for state and national certification as tools to measure outcomes in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains. The outcomes are discussed with faculty, preceptors, advisory committee, and reported to the programs’ accrediting agency. The program will continue to monitor all areas of the assessment plan.

For 2000-2001, the EC&R program continued to have an excellent retention rate of 94% for students. Additionally, 100% received job placement within 3 months of graduation. Enrollment for 2001-2002 was somewhat reduced due to the demands placed on EMS agencies by the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment Plan	Results of Assessment	Plan as a Result of Assessment
To prepare students as competent entry-level EMT-P practitioners, in the Cognitive Domain.	Performance on comprehensive, summative program written examinations. Post graduate instructor surveys Performance on standardized written Utah State Certification Examination Performance on National Registry Written Exam Performance on Oral Examination Board with program medical director Employer surveys Graduate surveys	100% of the students passed this evaluation tool Faculty are satisfied with student performance 100% of all graduates successfully passed the Utah State Certification written examination. Not required this year, 19 of 33 students took the NREMT-P exam. 14 of 19 passed 32 of 33 passed oral examination boards with physician. Employer survey return rate is 65%; respondents are satisfied with the knowledge level of new graduates Graduate survey return rate is 70%; respondents are satisfied with knowledge level as new graduates	Test has been placed in Chitester format. Curriculum modification showing promising results. Continue analysis of reports for trends, and compare against program's internal exams Continue to utilize the State Certification exam as a cursory evaluation tool and a program exit criteria While the pass rate was above the national average, results showed significant weaknesses in obstetrics, pediatrics and cardiology. Curriculum revision and redeployment of instructors is already showing signs of improvement. Students did well on first-ever (at WSU and in Utah) oral examinations. Failed student remediated in cardiology and went on to pass state test. Tool is very effective. Continue to utilize employer surveys; encourage improvement of returns Graduates must complete the survey in order to obtain the WSU paramedic graduation pin.
To prepare students as competent entry level EMT-P practitioners, in the Psychomotor Domain.	Evaluations of clinical performance Performance on the practical standardized Utah State Certification Examination Utilize the National Registry Skills Exam Employer surveys Post-Graduate surveys	100% of the students passed this evaluation tool 97%* of all graduates successfully passed the Utah State Certification practical examination on two attempts. (*First triple failure in program history) 18 of 19 students passed the National Registry Skills exam on the first day Employer survey return rate is 65%; respondents are satisfied with knowledge level of new graduates Faculty is satisfied with student performance. Once student did not meet the cut score	Continue to modify curriculum to preserve acceptable pass-rate Continue to utilize the State Certification exam as a summative evaluation and a program exit criteria; provide remediation for the one student not passing While this is above the national average, scores in each skill tested were reviewed. Cardiology retooled in current curriculum. Continue to utilize employer surveys; encourage improvement of returns Graduates must complete the survey in order to obtain WSU paramedic graduation pin. Continue analysis of reports for trends, and compare against program's internal exams
To prepare students as competent entry-level EMT-P practitioners, in the Affective Domain.	Post-Graduate instructor surveys Employer surveys Graduate surveys Grading of affective domain in didactic, clinical and field internship portion of program	Faculty are satisfied with student performance Employer survey return rate is 65%; respondents are satisfied with knowledge level of new graduates Graduate survey return rate is 70%; respondents are satisfied with knowledge level as new graduates 32 of 33 students achieved satisfactory grades in affective domain grading	Continue analysis of reports for trends, and compare against program's internal exams Continue to utilize employer surveys; encourage improvement of returns Graduates must complete the survey in order to obtain WSU paramedic graduation pin. The affected student was advised of this deficiency and required to perform an extra 120 hours of field internship. “Word of mouth” seems to have eliminated this problem with the incoming class.