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Interested in a challenging, fast-paced career where you can save lives? Become a paramedic. Paramedics are highly trained medical professionals who provide compassionate, critical treatment and assistance to individuals in desperate need. As a paramedic, you must think and act quickly, exercising excellent judgment.
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Our Paramedic Education Program offers the highest level of prehospital care training in advanced life support and includes academic, clinical, and field experiences. Graduates of the program are qualified to take the National Registry Exam for paramedics.
Our program has received accreditation from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions, and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences Paramedic Program
Where: Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences
Program Dates: August 25, 2025 - July 24, 2026
Days: Monday - Thursday
Times: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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2025 Phoenixville Hospital Paramedic Program
Where: Phoenixville Hospital
Medical Office Building II
826 Main Street
Phoenixville, PA 19460
Program Dates: January 6, 2025 - December 12, 2025
Days: Monday and Wednesday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. / Scheduled Fridays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Schedules:
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Spring 2025 Summer 2025 Fall 2025
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Paramedic Education Program Brochure
Paramedic Education Program Tuition
Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences
Phoenixville Hospital Paramedic Tuition
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Program will be based on the following:
- Current EMT certification in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
- Valid two-year BLS for Healthcare Provider CPR certification.
- Submission of high school transcript or equivalent.
- Satisfactory scores on the pre-admission examination.
- Recommendations: "recommend with confidence" rating.
The following documentation is required after the applicant is offered a seat in the class and according to post-acceptance deadlines:
- $300 Non-refundable Confirmation of Enrollment fee and form
- Current Criminal Record Check
- Current PA Child Abuse History Clearance Check
- Current FBI fingerprint results. Official results are needed.
- Documentation of health insurance, including hospitalization benefits
- Healthcare provider confirmation of required health screenings, tests, and immunizations
- Other information as requested
Curriculum
All paramedic lectures are held Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Reading Hospital's School of Health Sciences throughout the 11-month program. Graduation is in July.
Clinical rotations are completed at times convenient to the student.
Topics of instruction include:
Prehospital Environment
- Roles and responsibilities
- EMS systems
- Medical/legal aspects
- EMS communications
- Rescue
- Major incident response
- Stress management
Preparatory
- Medical terminology
- General patient assessment and initial management
- Airway and ventilation
- Pathophysiology of shock
- General pharmacology
- Anatomy and physiology
Trauma Emergencies
Medical Emergencies
- Respiratory
- Cardiovascular
- Nervous system
- Endocrine emergencies
- Acute abdomen, genitourinary, and reproductive systems
- Anaphylaxis
- Gastroenterology
- Toxicology, alcoholism, and drug
- Infectious disease
- Geriatrics/gerontology
- Pediatrics
OB/GYN and Neonatal Behavioral Emergencies
Classes are held at Reading Hospital, Sixth Avenue & Spruce Street, in West Reading. Clinical rotations in the following services also take part in the hospital:
- Emergency care
- Surgical and medical intensive care (including cardiac intensive care)
- Pediatric care
- Psychiatric care
- Labor and delivery
Faculty
Classes are taught by Reading Hospital emergency physicians, nurses, and other local and regional specialists in specific fields of pre-hospital care.
The program's acting Medical Director Thomas W. Stauffer, DO, works with the Program Director to ensure that the program’s content follows the National Standard Curriculum and state and regional guidelines.
Field experience with regional advanced life support units will be arranged with preceptors approved by the Hospital.
Program Director
Russell Engle, EdD, MBA, NRP, Director, Emergency Medical Services
Medical Director
Thomas Stauffer, DO, EMT-P
Faculty
- Matthew Small, Paramedic, Paramedic Curriculum Coordinator
- Annmary Thomas, M.Ed, NRP, Paramedic Curriculum Coordinator
- Gail Knauer, NRP, Clinical Coordinator
- Lindsay Lauer, Paramedic, EMT Program Coordinator
- Timothy G. Quinn, MA, NRP, Clinical Coordinator
Earning Your Bachelor's Degree
The School of Health Sciences has a relationship with Immaculata University’s College of Lifelong Learning. This articulation provides a smooth transition for School of Health Sciences paramedic graduates wishing to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Emergency Management and Planning.
You will be able to transfer up to 45 credits earned through the EMT and Paramedic program courses as part of the acceptance to the baccalaureate degree-completion program. The program is an accelerated program offered at Immaculata University or online through its College of Lifelong Learning.
