The North Coast Paramedic Program will be offered at College of the Redwoods McKinleyville Instructional Site, 1520 Center Road in the McKinleyville Shopping Center, a 25-minute drive north from the main Eureka campus.

The 33-unit program, only available to people who already are EMT-1 certified, and have submitted an application to the Health Occupations Office, will run fall/spring semesters with a summer internship. For the convenience of those are working full-time, the class for fall and spring semesters will be held on Fridays from 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 4:30p.m. The fall class is an 11-unit class, spring is 13 units and the summer internship is worth 9 units.  

Contacts:

• Janet Humble, CR Health Occupations Administrative Assistant, 707-476-4216.
  janet- humble@redwoods.edu 

• Fax: 707-476-4419
• Mail:  College of the Redwoods, Health Occupations 7351 Tompkins Hill Road, Eureka, CA 95501-9300
• Program Director Doug Boileau, at amra@norcalsafety.com or by phone at 707-822-3353

The goal of the North Coast Paramedic Program is to produce competent, entry level paramedics eligible to take the National Registry certification exams and, when passed, to be licensed in the State of California and nationally registered as paramedics.  Students will also receive course completion in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), or Pediatric Emergencies for Prehospital Providers (PEPP), and Hazardous Materials - Awareness level.

The North Coast Paramedic Program consists of a minimum of 1,130 hours, 450 hours of classroom didactic and skills laboratory instruction, 200 hours of clinical instruction, and a minimum of 480 hours in a field internship. The North Coast Paramedic Program occurs over three consecutive semesters (Fall-Spring-Summer).  It can be completed in 12 months.

The North Coast Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, program #600238.   Upon successful completion of the program, the student is eligible to take the National Paramedic registry certification exams.

Program approval is pending  from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. The student will then be eligible to apply for the College of the Redwoods Certificate of Completion in Paramedic studies and use the earned program credits toward an Associate Science Degree for Paramedics.

Classes will be held at the McKinleyville Instructional Site. The clinical hours will take place in various departments of acute care hospitals.  It is anticipated that these hours may be conducted at hospitals in Arcata, Eureka, or Fortuna.  Students should expect to be at a clinical location an average of eight hours a week.  The clinical rotation will begin in November and run concurrently with the didactic instruction. 

The summer field internship (HO 170C) will be conducted on Advanced Life Support ambulances under the direct supervision of experienced paramedics designated as Field Training Officers.  The field internship may be conducted with any ALS transport provider with which the program can establish an agreement.  It has become common in recent years for providers to charge for accepting paramedic interns.  These fees are not charged by all providers and can vary significantly.  They are not included in your student fees. 

North Coast Paramedic Lead Faculty

Douglas Boileau, M.B.A., EMT-P
Doug has been the program director of the North Coast Paramedic and its predecessor, the Humboldt Regional Occupation Program Paramedic Program, for 17 years.  He has prior experience teaching at the EMT-2, EMT-1 and first responder level.  In 2009, he was named EMS Educator of the Year for the State of California by the EMS Authority.  He has been a paramedic for 19 years and worked as an EMT-2 and EMT-1 for 9 years prior to that.  He holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from Humboldt State University.
Doug may be reached at amra@norcalsafety.com or by phone at 707-822-3353

Kelly Wilson, B.A., EMT-P
Kelly has been the primary instructor of the North Coast Paramedic Program for 6 years.  She has been a paramedic for 16 years and a Paramedic Field Training Officer for 14 years.  She was an EMT instructor for 10 years and has received the North Coast EMS Kris Kelly “Star of Life” Award twice.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Humboldt State University with an emphasis in Alternative Medicine, Health and Wellness.
Kelly may be contacted at kelly_anne_wilson@yahoo.com

Vicki Gibney, RN, CEN
Vicki has been the clinical coordinator of the North Coast Paramedic Program for four years.  Vicki has worked in hospital emergency departments for 26 years and has been certified as an Emergency Nurse and Mobile Intensive Care Nurse for 20 years.  She currently works in Clinical Education and is an Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor.
Vicki may be contacted at vicki.gibney@stjoe.org