Cardiology Syllabus for 2024-2025
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Instructor Information

Office Location

<p>First Responders Academy 1028</p>

Office Hours

Monday 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Tuesday & Thursday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

By Appointment

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. <strong>The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor. </strong>

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

EMSP-2444-001 Cardiology

Prerequisites

Course Description

Assessment and management of patients with cardiac emergencies. Includes single and multi-lead ECG interpretation.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(4 sem hrs; 3 lec, 4 lab)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Mejia, A., Elling, B., & Aehlert, B. (2023). Nancy Caroline’s Emergency Care in the Streets: Volume 1 (9th ed., Vol. 2). Jones & Bartlett Learning.   (ISBN – 978-1-284-23747-4)

Sinz, E., Crider, J., Walsh, B., Slattery, D., Morris, S., Menon, V., Livings, S., Jauch, E., Cohen, M., Brooks, S., Johnson, S., Hunt, E., Cheng, A., & Navarro, K. (2020). Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support: Provider Manual. American Heart Association.  (ISBN – 978-1-61669-772-3)

Phalen, T., & Aehlert, B. (2019). The 12-lead ECG in Acute Coronary Syndromes. Elsevier.

Supplies

Wi-Fi device capable of accessing and interacting online with Blackboard and various internet sites.  Suggested devices:  Wi-Fi compatible laptop computer or tablet.  Smart phones and discouraged due to limited screen size.

Student uniform.  Details provided in class.

GROUPME app – available for download in your app store.

Student Performance

Students are expected to be on time for all class sessions.  Students are also expected to remain in class until the entire class is dismissed.  If students are late or leave early from class, the Attendance Policy, as stated in the EMSP Advanced Student Handbook will be enforced.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Civility Statement

Students are full partners in fostering a classroom/laboratory environment which is conducive to learning.  In order to assure that all students have the opportunity to gain from time spent in class, unless otherwise approved by the course instructor, students are prohibited from engaging in any form of behavior that detracts from the learning experience of fellow students.  Inappropriate behavior in the classroom/ laboratory may result in a request for the offending student to leave class.  Attendance Policy will be enforced.

Abusive, vulgar, lewd, or profane speech will not be tolerated.

Electronic Mobile Devices

Electronic mobile devices are disruptive during class time and should be turned off or silenced.  If you feel you will have an emergency during class, please leave the classroom/laboratory and attend to the situation outside.

Tutoring/Supplemental Instruction

In addition to the Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy section, any student whose cumulative average falls below 75% will be required to attend tutoring sessions to remain in the course.  If tutoring is required, the student will be required to attend at least one, 60-minute session until their cumulative average is 75% or higher.  Students will be counseled to drop or receive a grade of “F” if satisfactory progress is not made as evaluated by the course instructor.

Students are expected to be fully engaged and participate during tutoring sessions.  If a student is not fully engaged and participating during tutoring sessions, as evaluated by the tutoring instructor, the student will not receive credit for tutoring.  Any student who fails to attend mandatory tutoring by the assigned due date will have TEN (10) points deducted from their next exam.

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty and cheating will not be tolerated in this course or during clinicals!  If a student is suspected of academic dishonesty or cheating, in accordance with Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Part 1, Chapter 157, Subchapter C, Rule §157.36(b)(20), “cheating and/or assisting another person to cheat on any examination, written or psychomotor, by any provider licensed by the department or any institution or entity conducting EMS education and/or training or providing an EMS examination leading to obtaining certification or renewing certification or licensure” may be subject to disciplinary action by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), also known as the department above.  This must be reported to DSHS

Grading Criteria

Student success will be assessed in three learning domains:

  • Cognitive
  • Psychomotor
  • Affective

FAILURE OF EITHER DOMAIN CONSTITUTES FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE COURSE.

Cognitive Domain

Grading Scale

  • A – 90% or higher
  • B – 80% to 89.9%
  • C – 70% to 79.9%
  • F – 69.9% and below

Successful completion of this course requires a final cumulative average of 70% or higher.  Students should NOT expect decimal grade rounding.

Grading Categories

  • Quiz Grades = 10% of the final average

Quizzes may be assigned online or administered during class.  Quizzes cover the material to be discussed that day in class and/or previous class sessions.  In the event of an absence or tardy, a quiz grade of ZERO (0) will be given for that quiz.  If a student fails to complete an online quiz by the assigned due date, as stated in the Course Calendar, a grade of ZERO (0) will be given for that quiz.  Quizzes CANNOT be made up.  No quizzes will be dropped.

Students getting 85% or higher on all weekly quizzes will receive an additional FIVE (5) points added to their next exam, including the Final Exam.

  • American Heart Association Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Algorithms = 10% of the final average

ACLS algorithms (Adult Cardiac Arrest Algorithm, Bradycardia With a Pulse Algorithm, and Tachycardia With a Pulse Algorithm) will be assigned in lab according to the Course Calendar.  Failure to complete the ACLS algorithms with a score of 90% or better will result in the student having to reattempt the algorithm on their own time, outside of class.  Subsequent reattempts will be averaged together in the gradebook.  No algorithms will be dropped.

  • Exam Grades = 50% of the final average

Exams not completed by announced deadline, as stated in the Couse Calendar, will be subject to a 15-point grade deduction per day it is late.  After seven (7) days, a grade of zero will be awarded.

  • Final Exam = 30% of the final average

If the Final Exam is not completed by the assigned due date, a grade of ZERO (0) will be awarded.  The Final Exam CANNOT be made up.  The Final Exam will not be dropped.

Psychomotor & Affective Domains

Policies and procedures for these domains are outlined in the EMSP Advanced Student Handbook

Attendance

See EMSP Advanced Student Handbook.

Calendar

All assignments open on Monday morning at 12:01 am and are due by Sunday night at 11:59 pm, unless otherwise stated in the Course Calendar.

Week 1

  • Anatomy & Physiology/Assessment, pages 387-411; 1159-1168
  • Quiz 1 - BLS

Week 2

  • Electrophysiology I, pages 280-281; 334-340; 1168-1182
  • Cardiac Arrest Algorithm Quiz
  • Exam 1

Week 3

  • Electrophysiology II, pages 1182-1197
  • Quiz 3

Week 4

  • Electrophysiology III, pages 1197-1208
  • Bradycardia Algorithm Quiz
  • Quiz 5

Week 5

  • Electrophysiology IV, pages 1208-1228
  • Exam 2

Week 6

  • Electrophysiology V, pages 1228-1232
  • Tachycardia Algorithm Quiz
  • Quiz 7

Week 7

  • 12-Lead ECG I, pages 1233-1249
  • Quiz 8

Week 8

  • 12-Lead ECG II, pages 1233-1249
  • Exam 3

Week 9

  • Pathophysiology I, pages 1249-1262
  • Dr. Morgan's Grand Rounds
  • Quiz 9

Week 10

  • Pathophysiology II, pages 1262-1272
  • Quiz 10

Week 11

  • Pathophysiology III, pages 1272-1282
  • Quiz 11

Week 12

  • Final Exam

Instructor reserves the right to change or amend this calendar, with or without written notice at any time.

Additional Information

First Responders Academy Student Parking

Students are expected to park in the northwest parking lot at the First Responders Academy.  This parking lot is located between the First Responders Academy and Grace Church.

First Responders Academy Gym Facilities

EMSP students are allowed access to the gym facilities on campus for no additional charge.  However, EMSP students should NOT use the gym facilities when other academies are using the gym:

  • Fire Academy – Monday through Friday, 7:00 to 8:00 am
  • Law Enforcement Academy – Monday through Friday, 4:15 to 5:30 pm

EMSP students are responsible for putting everything back in its place when done – weights, bars, etc.  Please do not take this opportunity away by not putting the equipment back where you found it when done.  Gym is not accessible on weekends or after 5:00 pm weekdays.

GroupMe

Please go to your app store and download the GroupMe app.  Please enable all Push Notifications when using or not using the app.  The purpose of this app is to quickly communicate with the class via text message.  Students are also able to communicate with each other through this app via text message.

To add yourself to the class, scan the following QR code.

Student Grievance Procedure

A student who has a problem with the course or course instructor should make every effort to resolve the problem with the course instructor.  If that is not successful, the student may appeal the instructor’s decision to the following individuals IN THIS ORDER:

  • Program Director
  • Public Service Director
  • Dean of Technical Education
  • Vice President of Academic Affairs
  • President of Amarillo College

Acceptance of EMSP Program Course Conditions

I have read and understand the following policies and procedures in the EMSP Course Syllabus.  I understand that if I fail to follow the outlined policies and procedures, I will be counseled to withdraw from the course or receive a grade of “F” for the listed courses.

Please note that Cardiology is very similar to your EMT course.  The foundation will be built during this semester.  Therefore, it is very important that you seriously learn the foundation material at the beginning of the semester to be able to apply it throughout the entire semester.

Exceptions to the policies and procedures outlined in this syllabus will be dealt with on an individual basis at the instructor’s discretion.  The instructor reserves the right to change, amend, or modify this syllabus or course calendar at any time with, or without, written notice.

Syllabus Created on:

05/05/25 2:48 PM

Last Edited on:

05/05/25 3:24 PM