Introduction

Emergency Medical Services EMS Fellowship Paramedic Program is designed to provide comprehensive pre-hospital training for senior specialist in prehospital emergency critical care, community healthcare, and disaster medicine. This program provides fellows with progressive clinical skills and applications in delivering critical care in pre-hospital setting. The program prepares fellows in community-paramedicine, which includes prevention, education, geriatrics care, palliative care, mental health and addictions, and chronic disease management. The program is also designed to introduce fellows to disaster medicine, including EMS disaster operations, emergency operations centers, mass gathering and public health emergency preparedness. Fellows will also be competent in research skills and methodologies.

Fellowship Mission, Goals and Objectives

Mission: 

To educate and inspire qualified EMS providers to excel as leaders in the field of pre-hospital emergency care, community healthcare, and disaster medicine through the supportive educational environment, the collaborative scientific research, the continuous medical education, and the effective community partnership.

Goals:

• To prepare the qualified paramedic to be an expert in his field

• Mastery and excellence in promoting the capabilities and competencies of EMS professionals to provide high quality patient care

• A motivated environment for teaching, learning and acquiring skills of advance emergency medical services 

• Elevating the research capacity of the EMS professionals

Objectives:

• To prepare EMS qualified professionals in providing high quality critical care in the pre-hospital setting.

• To advance the progress of fellows in Disasters Management through prepare in responding to and recovering from all types of hazards and disasters.

• Providing EMS professionals with the required skill in community health care.

• To improve the leadership skill and administration efficiency in EMS Paramedics 

• To provide fellows with research knowledge and skills that will allow them to contribute to and advance the scientific research in the EMS field. 

Eligibility and Admission Criteria

Candidates must meet the following requirements: 

• EMS Bachelor Degree

• Master Degree in Health Sciences.

• BLS and ACLS certified.

• Full-time commitment to the program, preferentially during a Three  year period.

• A letter of release and from his employer, if employed, for the complete period of training.

• Three recent referee’s recommendation letters.

• Successfully pass the admission’s exam and interview.

• An IELTS score of 6.0 overall, with at least 5.5 in each of the four component or equivalent exams https://graduatestudies.ksu.edu.sa/ar/node/1308

• Other postgraduate/KSU requirements.

Structure and Contents:

Program outlines 

• The program is a three years academic and clinical training in EMS Paramedics. The fellow will be allowed a four-week holiday during the year. 

Fellow Commitments: 

• The fellow is expected to work five days per week, and part of this time may be spent on non-clinical activities (research/teaching). The most typical working day will be from 07:30 AM to 4:30 PM, in addition to that s/he expected to cover on-call duty as per policy of the training site providing that total working hours are not to exceed 208 hours per month.

• The fellow will attend a full day activity per week.

• The fellow will be responsible for all the requirements needed to be accomplished in rotation areas

• Clinical subjects should be addressed with the supervising faculty. And the fellow’s monthly evaluation will be conducted by the supervising faculty. In terms of general questions related to the program, fellow is expected to consult the Academic Supervisor. The Program Director will provide an overall introduction to the fellowship; administer the evaluation of the fellow. Fellows are encouraged to discuss any clinical issues directly with the faculty involved. However, any concerns that are unable to be resolved directly should be addressed with the program director and the college deanship.

Didactic Activities: 

• Fellows are expected to attend all the activities run by all clinical rotation sites to their fellow like grand-round, journal club and other. In addition to that, s/he expect to attend weekly full-day program activity and program director meeting.

Areas of Focus

• Critical Care for EMS Specialists

• Community Care for EMS Specialists

• Education and training of EMS Specialists

• Administrative and developmental aspects of EMS programs

• Research and scholarly activities in the field of EMS

• Disaster response and operation management

• EMS Public Health Emergency Preparedness

• Mass gathering Medicine, EMS.

FEMS Study Plan 

Fellow Assessments and Examinations

• The fellow is evaluated at the end of each rotation using the designed evaluation form (provided) by faculty in the training site, and has to achieve above 70% to pass the rotation.

• Promotion Examination at the end of each year and to be prepared and approved by program committee passing is above 70%

• At the end of the program fellow will be legible to enter the final exam after completion of all rotation and courses

• Promotion Exam is written exam

• Final Examination will consist of written exam, OSCE and oral.

• A log-book which details the procedures the fellow has to do throughout the years, when assisting in patient care. That log-book should be evaluated by the supervising faculty in the PSCEMS on 1-3 months’ basis and follow by constructive feedback. In last year should be approved by program committee prior to the graduation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most FAQ (frequently asked questions) by the applicants of King Saud University Fellowship in Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) program for Paramedics.

1- Is the King Saud University Emergency Medical Services Fellowship Program available for males and females? 

Yes, the program is available for both males and females. 

2- After successful completion of the program what degree will be awarded? 

The graduate will be awarded with a certificate of completion of the King Saud University Fellowship in Emergency Medical Services for Paramedics equivalent to a professional doctoral degree. 

3- To enroll for the King Saud University Fellowship Program in Emergency Medical Services (FEMS), is it necessary to have a Master's Degree? 

Yes, to enroll for the King Saud University Fellowship Program in Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) one must have a Master Degree in any health specialty. 

4- Are non-emergency medical services EMS specialists accepted into the King Saud University Fellowship Program in Emergency Medical Services (FEMS)? 

No, admission is exclusive for those who hold a bachelor’s degree in emergency medical services with a master’s in any health specialty. 

5- Is there any classification in the Saudi Health Specialties Authority for the Certificate Holder of King Saud University Fellowship Program in Emergency Medical Services (FEMS)? 

No, currently there is no classification in the Saudi Health Specialties Authority for non-physician fellowship holders to be classified as a specialist consultant, but work is underway on that. 

6- What is the fee structure to enroll in the King Saud University Fellowship Program in Emergency Medical Services (FEMS)?

The fee structure for the King Saud University Fellowship Program in Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) is according to the practice of the Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at King Saud University. Corresponding to the cost of a PhD in health programs, please visit the following link: - https://graduatestudies.ksu.edu.sa/ar/node/1836. The Cost per year is 50K SAR. 

7- Is it necessary to be enrolled full-time in the King Saud University Fellowship Paramedic Program for Emergency Medical Services EMS? 

Yes, It is necessary and also one of the prerequisites for joining the King Saud University Fellowship Paramedic Program for Emergency Medical Services and he/she must bring proof of non-objection from the applicant’s employer if he is accepted into the program by granting him a sabbatical for a period of three years. 

Greetings from the committee of the King Saud University Fellowship Program in Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) !