Emergency Medicine Degree

Emergency medicine deals with advanced life-support units and ambulance services under medical supervision and direction. People with this degree provide medical care to patients, interact with their families, bystanders and other rescue services personnel in a professional and efficient manner.

To become a part of this field, you will have to enroll in an emergency medical care degree. There are a number of colleges across the United States that offer emergency medicine courses.

Students can go for various degrees in emergency medicine, depending on their preferences, education and relevant experience if any. The college you choose will also have an impact on their future.

Bachelor of Science in Emergency Medical Care: There are only a few universities and colleges that offer bachelor degree programs in emergency medicine. This is a 4-year degree designed to train students to manage and lead in pre-hospital care settings. After the completion of EMT-B and paramedic training, the degree is concluded with a year of leadership studies.

To be eligible for this program, you will need to submit your high school or college transcripts, a non-refundable application fee and test scores for standardized tests. Some colleges might have additional requirements, such as an EMT-B or a paramedic certification.

The coursework in emergency medicine programs revolves around the following topics:

• Pediatric neonatal intensive care
• Extrication
• Pharmacology
• EMS research and analysis
• EMS law and legal studies
• Hazmat handling
• Emergency cardiology
• Disaster management
• Trends in emergency medical services

Besides these, an emergency medicine program will also include basic level liberal arts courses.

Bachelor of Science in Emergency Medical Management: Another option for people interested in going for a bachelor’s in medicine science is emergency medical management. This particular emergency medical course is not focused on the training aspect. It places a greater emphasis on preparing students for management, teaching and leadership positions in different healthcare settings.
To apply for this program, you will need to have at least an EMT-B certification. In addition, some colleges might also ask you to include an essay or statement of interest in the program, high school transcripts, standardized test scores and letters of recommendation.
The coursework for this program usually revolves around the following:

• Healthcare policy
• Current issues in health science
• EMS system design
• Finance management
• Ethics in emergency medicine
• Development and planning for emergency services
• EMS operations and management
• Human resource management

If you are looking for a more advance emergency medicine degree program, you should look into graduate programs.

This degr ee takes on a more advance take on the field of emergency medicine, preparing you for today’s competitive professional world of Emergency Management Services (EMS). The curriculum presents a comprehensive foundation of the disaster cycle, along with establishing broad basics for the components, systems, background and stakeholders involved in the management of disaster situations, whether natural or manmade.
By the time you have completed a master of science in emergency services management, you should have gathered the following skills:

• Analyze practical and theoretical concepts surrounding the disaster cycle within the emergency services field
• Apply best practices to real-world disaster circumstances, involving the management aspect of emergency services
• Analyze and understand inter-organizational roles that play an important part within emergency management legal constructs
• Learn how to communicate effectively using various media of communications in a medical environment

Clinical Doctorate in Emergency Medicine: The doctorate program in emergency medicine lasts for nearly four to five years and involves intensive courses. The program typically concludes with a research project or dissertation. The usual coursework in this degree level includes the following:

• Introduction to Emergency Management
• Toxicology and Oral Maxillary Facial
• Cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematology, oncology, and psychological disorders
• Advanced Resuscitation and shock
• Emergency wound management, environmental injuries, trauma
• Infectious disease, endocrinology, neurology
• Advanced musculoskeletal topics emergency medicine

In addition to the above courses, a PhD program would include a variety of mandatory practical assignments, internships and training sessions. You may be placed at different medical centers, clinics and hospitals to get firsthand experience relevant to emergency medicine.

If you want to practice emergency medicine, just a degree from a medical college will not be enough. Once you have graduated from college, you will be required to complete a residency program, which typically takes three years to complete. Within this period, residents complete emergency medicine rotations in various specialties, shadowing experienced emergency personnel.

After you finish your residency, you need to be licensed. For this you will need to take and pass a national licensing exam, typically the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Keep in mind though, that licensing requirements may vary from state to state.

With advancements in technology, there is the availability of emergency medicine courses online. However, keep in mind that due to the practical aspects involved and the mandatory hands on training required as part of this degree, it cannot be entirely online. The courses that are commonly offered as part of this online degree include:

• Advanced life support course: This course deals with life support protocols and treatment methods
• Electrocardiograms recognition course: This allows students to assess a patient’s heart rhythm and gain an understanding of the function of an electrocardiograph machine
• Pharmacology course: This course revolves around the uses of pharmaceutical medicine in emergency situations.
• Managing trauma course: This course teaches students to analyze the potential traumatic conditions that an EMT may encounter during emergencies

Hybrid programs in this discipline are usually available at the associate level. Higher degree levels require substantial practical participation, therefore are difficult to complete online.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the 2012 median pay for EMTs (Emergency Medicine Technicians) and Paramedics was $31,020 per annum. The job outlook between 2012 and 2022 is 23% is expected to be more than twice the national average for all occupations.
EMTs may be required to work both indoor and outdoor. The work itself is physically strenuous and can be stressful. Life-and-death situations might become a norm. EMTs may also sustain injuries due to the nature of their job. They have to do a considerable amount of kneeling, bending and lifting and could be exposed to contagious diseases or might sometimes be injured by mentally unstable or combative patients.

These risks can, however, be reduced by following proper safety procedures.

Some Facts:

• A special prayer exists for EMS professionals written by L. Lipps.
• The Star of Life created by Leo R. Schwartz stands for six tasks – Detection, Reporting, Response on Scene Care, Care in Transit, and Transfer to Definitive Care. 

How Long Does It Take to Get an Emergency Medicine Degree?

Even though there is no specific separate degree in emergency medicine, you can focus on this medical field by choosing it as your specialization. If you are interested in becoming an emergency medicine professional, you will need a 4-year long bachelor’s degree, followed by a 4-year long medical school and a 3-4 year long residency program.

What Are the Requirements to Get an Emergency Medicine Degree?

To get an emergency medicine degree, you first need to earn a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. This will be followed by the MCAT and medical school. After this, you will need to obtain a license to practice and complete a residency program. You will typically complete a series of medical courses, lectures and hospital rotations, including a turn in the emergency department at a healthcare facility.

How Much Can I Make After I Get an Emergency Medicine Degree?

Once you have completed a medical program in emergency medicine, you can opt to work in a variety of healthcare settings. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Physicians and Surgeons made an annual median income of $208,000 in 2018, which translates to nearly $100.00 per hour.