2022Protocols

South Plains Emergency Medical Services

Saving Lives in the South Plains

2024 ECA Protocols

2024 EMT Protocols

2024 Advanced EMT (EMT Intermediate)

2024 Paramedic

2024 ECA Protocols

2024 ECA Protocol Changes

2024 ECA Protocol Test

* The purpose of the protocol test is:

1. To know what your medical director will allow you to do under his license.

~ The protocols are not what all EMS services do under their respective medical direction.

~ The protocols are not necessarily what you learned in your EMS or specialty courses/CE/Conference.

2. The protocols change yearly through extensive research, best practices, medical director preference, and field needs & requests.

~ The test is designed to learn what the new changes are.

~ The test is to ensure that you do not perform treatments that are no longer in the protocols.

~ The test is designed as an open book test so you will know where to find the changes (new additions & discontinuations).

~ The online test is randomized. No two tests are the same. Do not take it once as a "practice".

~ The test is not designed for you to "see if you can pass it without opening the protocols".

> The highest failure rate is due to this thought process.

> One of the large failure rates is due to rushing through the test.

< The average time to take the written test in the SPEMS office is 4 hours.

< The page number must be written on the test as part of the grade when taken at SPEMS.

~ Needless failures are an administrative burden, a waste of resources, valuable time, and a poor reflection on the individual.

~ SPEMS pays a fee per test. At this time there is no charge to the individual. However, should the system be abused, the individual may be required to pay for the tests they waste.

3. The protocol test is designed to know that you can perform optimal patient care.

You must score 90% or better to pass this open book test. You only get 1 attempt to pass. If you do not pass after 1 attempt, you must call the SPEMS office to remediate. Depending on your initial score & knowledge, you will either have your test reopened to complete it or schedule a 4-hour appointment with the SPEMS office to take a written, monitored exam. IF YOU FAIL AFTER THE FIRST ATTEMPT, DO NOT ALTER YOUR NAME OR EMAIL ADDRESS TO CIRCUMVENT THE SYSTEM. EVEN IF YOU PASS, THE SCORE WILL NOT COUNT. YOU WILL STILL BE REQUIRED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SPEMS OFFICE TO RETEST.

4. Ensure you are taking both the appropriate test and taking the test appropriately.

The protocols & test links are color coded, please ensure you are using the right ones for your certification level. It is highly recommended that any new or potential new hires that have never taken the protocol test before, contact the SPEMS office prior to taking the test for a tutorial. The majority of initial failures are due to individuals that have never seen or used protocols.

Remember that the protocol test must be completed by the appointed date. If the test is not taken by that date, than you do not have medical direction. Ultimately, it is the EMS Directors responsibility to ensure that EVERY practicing person on that service passes the Protocol test BEFORE being allowed to staff an ambulance.