The Emergency Medicine program has access to some of the best EMS agencies and world-renowned clinical facilities in western Pennsylvania. The clinical and field experiences combine the academic rigor of the classroom with real-world, hands-on patient care opportunities. Students complete a minimum of 544 hours at EMS agencies and hospitals throughout the region.
Clinical experiences are concurrent with didactic and laboratory sessions, allowing for the immediate application of information obtained in the classroom and laboratory exercises. Students perform physical examinations and assess patient medical histories and formulate and carry out treatment plans and skills under the direct supervision of preceptors.
Students complete a minimum of 544 hours in over 70 clinical rotations over a two-semester, three-phase curriculum. Students average 24 hours per week of clinical and field exposure. The program culminates in a Summative Field Experience providing the students with an opportunity to serve as a Team Leader on an ambulance.
Preparing for it All
Through a series of terminal performance objectives, the student is required to complete specific patient contacts across the life span from newborn to geriatric patients, specific complaints and pathologies, as well as specific skills including airway management, IV insertion and medication administration. This intense and challenging program promotes a solid foundation for individuals pursuing the application of advanced life support care in a variety of prehospital and in-hospital health care systems.
By using a combination of more than 49 clinical and field sites in and surrounding Pittsburgh, the student has the opportunity for exposure to many facets of the health care continuum.
Clinical rotations may include:
Anesthesia
Burn
Emergency Department
Medical Command
IV Team/Medical Procedures Unit
Labor and Delivery
Pediatric Emergency Department
Psychiatric Emergency Department
ECT Lab
Respiratory Care
Critical Care ICU
Trauma
Emergency medicine students participating in a skills lab.
Local Preceptors and Partners
Precepted by the dedicated men and women of local EMS system, the Pitt EM students provide patient care on advanced life support ambulances. The primary Advanced Life Support (ALS) field sites in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties include:
Ambulance and Chair Service
Brownsville Ambulance, Cannonsburg EMS
City of Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS
Cranberry Township EMS
Eastern Area Prehospital Services
Lower Valley Ambulance Service
McCandless/Franklin Park Ambulance Authority
McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Squad
Medical Rescue Team South Authority
Monroeville Fire Company #1
Monroeville Fire Company #4
Munhall Area Prehospital Services
Murrysville Medic One
Mutual Aid Ambulance Service, Inc.
North Huntington EMS/Rescue
NorthWest EMS
Penn Hills EMS
Penn Township EMS
Peters Township EMS
Plum EMS, Robinson EMS
Ross/West View EMSA
Scott Township EMS
Shaler Hampton EMS
Southbridge EMS
SouthEast Regional EMS
Tri-Community South EMS
Valley Ambulance Authority
White Oak EMS
Woodland Hills EMS
In addition to required rotations, students have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills through an elective rotation at the following sites:
STAT MedEvac helicopter program
Emergency Medicine Residency Prehospital Physician Response Unit
emergency department shift with the program medical director
