Carteret CC Earns National Accreditation for EMS Program

Morehead City, N.C. (February 14, 2023) – The Emergency Medical Science program at Carteret Community College has achieved national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP) with no citations or violations noted.

“Being accredited demonstrates that our program is consistent with the national standards for paramedic programs,” stated Christine Turner, chair of the Carteret CC EMS program. “In other words, our students are receiving the best education possible, and it will allow them to test for the National Registry, which means they can find employment as paramedics anywhere in the United States, and even in some regions overseas.”

In addition to receiving national accreditation, the EMS program at Carteret CC finalized the purchase of VR Patients, a virtual reality diagnostic training tool. This web-based program creates detailed patient simulations that can be utilized both in the classroom and at home. Through the program, students assess the patient’s pulse, heart rate, oxygen levels, temperature, and breathing patterns before choosing the course of treatment such as specific dosing of medications, IV administration, and other critical care factors. Detailed feedback upon simulation completion is provided immediately to both the student and instructor.

“This VR program fills the gap between fieldwork and manikins simulations,” stated Dylan Miller, a second-year EMS paramedic student. “Seeing the virtual patients change in real-time within the simulation enhances our educational experience before we begin our careers in the field.”

Carteret Community College’s EMS program is one of several public safety or public service programs the college offers. Jobs in these fields are in high demand and Carteret CC offers certificates, diplomas, degrees, and an array of continuing education credentials in the areas of Basic Law Enforcement Training, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Fire Academy, Paralegal Technology, and Teacher Preparation.

If you are interested in learning more about the EMS program or other public safety programs at Carteret CC, please visit www.carteret.edu.

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