Arkansas

Section Chief - Vacant
Regulatory Administrator, Larry New
Certification Administrator , Norajean Miles Harrell
Trauma Systems Administrator, Brian Nation
Section of EMS & Trauma Systems
Arkansas Department of Health & Human Services
5800 W. 10th St., Suite 800
Little Rock, AR 72204-1763
501/661-2262, Fax 501/280-4901
www.healthyarkansas.com

EMT-Basic: Skills include: Rescue and extrication, fire control, situation assessment, triage, establish and maintain airway, oxygen administration, CPR, control hemorrhage, treat shock, care of poisoning and drug overdose, fracture immobilization, emergency childbirth and care of the newborn, control of psychiatric emergencies, wound management, use of EMS data forms, use of EMS communication equipment, contact lens removal and care, spinal immobilization, ability to give and receive (verbal and written) medical descriptions of patient conditions and care rendered, use of MAST, and the ability to assist with approved patient-prescribed medications. Hours of training: Curriculum must meet or exceed the Department of Transportation’s National Standard Curriculum (NSC). The following hours meet the Arkansas minimum (160): didactic, 112; clinical, 24; field internship, 16; extrication, 8. Certification requirements: Must complete approved NSC course and be recommended by instructor. EMT-Ambulance applicant must pass National Registry written and Arkansas state practical exams. Recertification requirements: Basic EMT/EMT-Ambulance: Application, $20 fee, current CPR and one of the following: NSC Basic EMT refresher course or 48 hours of approved continuing education.

EMT-Intermediate: Skills include: All Basic skills plus PTL/Combitube, D50W, IV with normal saline and Ringer’s solutions only. Hours of training: Curriculum must meet or exceed the Department of Transportation’s National Standard Curriculum of 1985. The following hours meet the Arkansas minimum (115): didactic, 75; clinical, 24; field internship, 16. Certification requirements: Must meet objectives of 1985 National Standard Curriculum and complete approved NSC course, pass National Registry written and practical exams (successful completion of course includes being recommended by primary instructor and medical director of approved training program). Recertification requirements: Application, $20 fee, current CPR, skills verification from medical director of ALS service, and all of the following: NSC Basic EMT refresher course, 12 hours of continuing education at the Intermediate level and 36 hours of continuing education.

EMT-Paramedic: Skills include: All Basic and Intermediate skills plus administration of IV fluids, ventilatory support, administration of approved drugs, nasogastric intubation and suction, monitoring of vital signs, mobile cardiac care consisting of ECG interpretation and monitoring, IV fluids and antiarrhythmia drugs and CPR including airway maintenance, defibrillation and endotracheal intubation. All paramedic services must have a medical director. Paramedics cannot function as such unless working for a licensed paramedic service, in a hospital emergency department or as part of a response team within a hospital. They may work for Intermediate services, but cannot perform any skills beyond the Intermediate level. Hours of training: Curriculum must meet or exceed the Department of Transportation’s National Standard Curriculum of 1998. Minimum of 1,200 hours; must include didactic and laboratory, 600 hours; clinical, 300 hours; field internship, 300 hours. Certification requirements: Successfully complete approved training program (NSC guideline) and be recommended by the instructor/coordinator and medical director, successfully pass the National Registry written and practical exams. Recertification requirements: Application, $20 fee, current CPR, current ACLS, skills verification from medical director of ALS service, (NSC) paramedic refresher course or 48 hours of continuing education that adhere to the NSC paramedic refresher course modules and 24 hours of continuing education.