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Location: NHSHP
Schedule: Call Office

History of the Paramedic Profession

In 1966, the National Academy of Science and the American Medical Association described an appalling picture of emergency care in the United States and gave critical attention to the topic of ambulances and ambulance attendants in their report entitled “Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society”. There were not generally accepted standards for training or competence of ambulance personnel and specifications for ambulance transport vehicles. Further, the then popular Cadillac station wagon type ambulances were unsuitable for treating patients in transit. Indeed 50% of the country’s ambulance services were provided by 12,000 morticians. The hearse/funeral director also doubled as the ambulance/ambulance attendant.

The Emergency Medical Service (EMS) System Act, passed into law in 1973, required that EMS systems create training programs for both hospital and pre-hospital personnel in emergency care techniques and standards for emergency ambulance vehicles. The goal was to provide patients with the most appropriate care in the pre-hospital and hospital settings. With the implementation of the EMS System Act, a major national effort was put forth to improve emergency medical care.

In 1975, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare defined the EMT-Paramedic as “persons trained for advanced life support services to include sophisticated trauma, cardiac and other critical care elements for intervention treatment, shock therapy and drug administration and cardiac rhythm detection control”. In 1977, the National Training Course for the EMT-Paramedic was established and its current edition is the national standard. Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Hospital of Saint Raphael began educating paramedics in 1976 and have been responsible for the clinical training of over 1500 paramedics since that time.

Paramedics Today

Paramedics in Connecticut are licensed professionals who work under the auspices of a “sponsor hospital” with physicians who provide direct and indirect medical oversight for the care of patients in the pre-hospital environment. In Connecticut, paramedics work with indirect medical oversight (standing orders) in the form of Paramedic Protocols from their Medical Director and with direct medical oversight in the form of direct communications with emergency medicine physicians.

Paramedics function as the eyes, ears and hands of the physician by extending the physician’s practice to the prehospital arena. They need a good grasp of emergency medicine to ensure the safe delivery of patient care and transportation to the hospital for definitive care. To this end, the New Haven Sponsor Hospital Paramedic Program works to ensure the highest quality of education for these important members of the health care team.

The New Haven Sponsor Hospital Program

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system is a vital component of the care of many patients requiring hospital services. State of Connecticut Legislation mandates that advanced level EMS providers work under the auspices of a “Sponsor Hospital. In light of the legislation and to assure a high level of pre-hospital care to the Greater New Haven area, the Hospital of Saint Raphael and Yale-New Haven Hospital jointly operate a sponsor hospital program which combines the financial, clinical and managerial resources of both hospitals. The major goals of the hospitals in establishing the New Haven Sponsor Hospital Program are as follows: (1) to ensure standardization of pre-hospital care, (2) to offer the highest quality of training and continuing medical education for all professionals involved, and (3) to maintain a comprehensive system which will aid pre-hospital personnel in providing high quality professional patient care services.

The New Haven Sponsor Hospital Paramedic Program

The New Haven Sponsor Hospital Paramedic Program is a State of Connecticut approved educational program and is based on the 1999 National Standard Curriculum for Paramedic Training. The program begins every January and is made up of didactic sessions, hospital clinical rotations and field internship.The Program is taught by various instructors chosen for their knowledge, experience and teaching abilities. Faculty for the Paramedic Program is made up of physicians, physician associates, nurses, paramedics and other allied health professionals based on their subject matter expertise. These instructors are from Yale-New Haven Hospital, The Hospital of Saint Raphael, Yale University School of Medicine and EMS providers from throughout the region, the state and the country. Upon completion of the Paramedic Program, the students are well prepared for the paramedic level National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Examination which is a requirement set forth by the State of Connecticut for Paramedic Licensure.

Program Description

Preparatory Skill Labs: A series of skill laboratories are conducted by the faculty to prepare the students to enter clinical rotations and the field internship with a solid foundation. Labs include: Infectious Disease/Aseptic Technique, Phlebotomy, Patient Assessment, Advanced Airway Management, Vascular Access and Fluid Therapy, Electrocardiography, and Medication Preparation and Administration.
Anatomy and Physiology: An in-depth study of the structure and function of the human body is taught by faculty of the Yale University School of Medicines’ Anatomy Department. This section includes lecture presentations and supervised cadaver labs.
Didactic Presentations: Topic areas follow the 1999 National Standard Curriculum for Paramedic Training and include: Patient Assessment, Pharmacology, Shock and Fluid Therapy, Respiratory Emergencies, Cardiovascular Emergencies, Central Nervous system, Medical Emergencies, Behavioral Crisis management, Stress Recognition and Management, Pediatrics, Neonatal, Geriatrics, Endocrine Disturbances, Trauma, Burns, Triage and Mass Casualty Scene management, Incident Command, EMS/Public Safety Communications, and Professional Issues. Classes will be held on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings at 6pm-10pm as well as Saturday mornings (8am-12pm although some Saturdays 8am-4pm). However, Wednesday evenings are only for the first month.
Standard Certification: The program includes provider level certification in:
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
  • Pediatric Education Pre-hospital Professional (PEPP)
  • Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)
Clinical Rotations: The Hospital of Saint Raphael, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale Guilford Clinic, and Griffin Hospital provide the clinical rotations, which are designed to meet National Standard Curriculum guidelines.

All clinical hours are in addition to the scheduled classroom hours. Day, evening, and night hours will be available for clinical rotations.

To broaden the student’s knowledge of the overall EMS system operations, rotations of the South Central Connecticut Regional Communications will be available.
Field Internships: Students rotate through various sponsored paramedic level provider services. The Paramedic Field Instructor (PFI), chosen from the ranks of the sponsored EMS providers through a competitive selection process that recognizes the most competent and motivated paramedic professionals, provides field training. Since the Field Internship is part of the education process, it is important that the Program provide proper supervision for the students. Students are assigned one-on-one to ride with a PFI. The PFI’s are all highly knowledgeable and motivated EMS provides and educators that take a personal interest in the quality of education that the student receives.
Course Tuition: $5,500 plus the cost of textbooks. The program cost covers Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification, Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification, Pediatric Education for Pre-Hospital Providers Certification, Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support Certification, and Fisdap registration.

A deposit of $1,000.00 is required at time of acceptance and enrollment into the program. The cost of books is due upon receipt. The remaining balance of the program is due by the end of March.
Students are responsible for all costs associated with National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician testing and State of Connecticut Licensing, hospital parking, meals, etc.

Requirements for Paramedic Education Program



1. Currently certified EMT with a minimum of one year active EMS service. At least two years active service preferred. Active service is defined as fifteen (15) or more emergency calls a month. Related health care experience may be considered.
2. Eighteen (18) years of age or older.
3. High School diploma or equivalent
4. Valid driver’s license
5. A complete physical examination within one year of this application. A report of the examination verifying good physical health and addressing the capacity to perform EMS functions must be provided.
6. Applicant must not have a substance abuse problem or use illegal or illicit substances
7. Submit a current negative drug screen and background investigation.
8. Submit the name, address, and day-time phone number of the following individuals who may be contacted as references (this should have been done at the time you requested a date to take the entrance exam).
    a. Your EMS Service Chief
    b. An Emergency Department Physician, P.A., R.N., or a State of Connecticut Licensed Paramedic
    c. A peer EMS provider

Selection for the Paramedic Program is based on the following:


1. A passing score on the written screening exam (a multiple choice exam based on the EMT-B curriculum)
2. EMS experience
3. Review of transcripts/GED scores (these should be provided when returning the completed application)
4. Review of references.
5. Results of an oral interview.