Higher Diploma in Remote Paramedic Practice

This comprehensive program equips you with the essential skills and knowledge to excel as a paramedic in challenging and remote environments. Accredited by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) and aligned with MQF/EQF Level 5, our blended learning approach combines online instruction with hands-on experience at our Pretty Bay, Malta campus.

Year 1 Modules

RPP101 - Remote Emergency Medical Technician

COMPULSORY

This module provides the knowledge and skills needed to provide Basic Life Support medical assessment and treatment for casualties found in remote and austere environments. Content areas include: airway management, history taking, techniques of the physical examination, patient assessment, clinical decision making, communications, documentation and assessment-based management.

RPP102 - Applied Human Sciences

This module includes human anatomy, pathophysiology and microbiology. It gives a fundamental understanding of human biology and the structure and function of the human body. The pathophysiology section provides case-based learning of human pathology. Microbiology provides a good understanding of the diseases and processes applications for the second-year modules in tropical and austere medicine.

RPP103 - Fundamentals of Paramedic Science

This module focuses on the basic concepts, skills and principles that are required for a fundamental safe practice for the remote paramedic. It uses an evidence-based approach to describe and demonstrate safe, professional practice in the remote clinical setting. It will introduce direct and indirect factors that influence patient care. It covers how relationships between health care professionals and casualties can be enhanced through effective communication, best practice medical skills and thinking outside of the box.

RPP104 - Fundamentals of Paramedic Practice

This module provides hands-on skills and case-based learning that builds on the concepts found in RPP103. The three-week module is a comprehensive introduction to the paramedic profession and the practice of advanced medical skills in the remote prehospital environment. Through a variety of didactic and clinical experiences, students will gain an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the remote paramedic practice. The module strongly emphasises developing an evidence-based, assessment-based approach to casualty care that leads to appropriate treatment and evacuation of the critical casualty. The classroom location is Pretty Bay, Malta.

RPP105 - Clinical Practicum

This compulsory module provides hands-on clinical experience to practice and perfects the skills learned in RPP104. The 375 hours of clinical placement are conducted under the direct supervision of a medical doctor or advanced practitioner.

Year 2 Modules

RPP201 - Foundations in Tropical and Austere Medicine

COMPULSORY

This compulsory module provides didactic and hands-on classroom-based learning that covers wilderness medicine, tropical medicine, expedition medicine and travel medicine. The module was based on disease and non-battle injury (DNBI) research found in the review of recent expeditions and military deployments. It focuses on the top twenty injuries and ailments found in remote clinics worldwide. The module culminates with a prolonged field care exercise. The classroom location is Pretty Bay, Malta.

RPP202 - Further Concepts in Tropical and Austere Medicine

ELECTIVE

This module provides didactic and hands-on classroom-based learning that covers the remote and austere medical skills needed for the advanced practitioner. It covers minor surgical skills, and austere laboratory clinical diagnosis and culminates with a prolonged field care exercise. The classroom location is Pretty Bay, Malta.

RPP203 - Intensive Care for Austere and Remote Environments

This module focuses on the basic concepts, skills and principles that are required to assess and treat the critical casualty. The course covers haemodynamic monitoring, critical care monitoring, advanced concepts of shock, and the treatment of burns in remote environments and prepares the student for the American board certification as a Critical Care Paramedic. The classroom location is Pretty Bay, Malta.

Optional certification: Flight Paramedic (FP-C) or Critical Care Paramedic (CCP-C) accredited by IBSC.

RPP204 - Austere Urgent Care: Minor Illness and Injuries

COMPULSORY

This elective module is designed to give students the skills required to manage a range of minor injuries and emergencies encountered in remote and austere environments. Common injuries have been identified from area-specific literature and the experience of the teaching faculty working in remote and austere environments.

RPP205 - Burns in Resource-Limited Environments

ELECTIVE

This module will cover the fundamental topics regarding the presentation, diagnosis and initial management of the casualty suffering from burns, specifically for the healthcare provider working in remote, austere and resource-limited environments.

RPP206 - Prehospital Pain Management and Sedation

ELECTIVE

This module introduces the fundamental topics for assessing and managing pain, specifically in remote, austere and resource-limited environments, focusing on general, regional, pain management, and sedation anaesthesia concepts. Additional topics include: airway management techniques, positioning, and an introduction to anaesthetic pharmacology are emphasized. Anaesthetic management strategies for patients with common diseases and perioperative problems are examined. Upon course completion, students should be able to demonstrate prehospital pain management and sedation strategies.

RPP207 - Austere Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis

ELECTIVE

This module introduces basic clinical laboratory techniques, laboratory safety, care and use of basic laboratory equipment and setting up a small clinical laboratory in a remote, austere and resource-limited environment.

RPP208 - Remote Medical Life Support

COMPULSORY

This elective module covers the top twenty injuries and ailments seen by healthcare professionals working in remote, austere, and resource-limited environments.

RPP209 - Wilderness and Expedition Medicine

ELECTIVE

This elective module introduces the foundational concepts of the practice of healthcare and the knowledge base required to work in wilderness and expedition medicine.

RPP210 - Practicum II

COMPULSORY

This module aims to build on the concepts of assessing and managing a patient in the remote out-of-hospital environment found in RPP105. It will provide students with advanced knowledge, understanding and skills to undertake preliminary patient assessment and treatment and will introduce them to the range of management options available for paramedics within a defined range of situations. This knowledge, and the skills gained during the module, will directly assist them in preparing for their placement modules.

€18,000

MQF: Level 5
Accreditation: Approved by Higher Education Authority
Total Learning hours: 3000
Credits: 120 ECTS
Mode of Delivery: Blended
Programme Length: 24 Months Full-time - 40 Months Part-time
Qualification: Higher Diploma Remote Paramedic Practice

INSTRUCTORS

Entry Requirements

Maths/Numeracy:
GCSE Maths at Grade C
Functional skills Maths Level 2
Key skills application Level 3

English/Literacy:
GCSE English Grade C
Functional skills English Level 2
Key skills communication Level 3
Adult literacy Level 2

Non-Native English Speaking Applicants:
If English is not your first language, you must have an International English
Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7 or more.

Additional Requirements:
Aged 18 years or over at the start of the course, all vaccines must be up-to-date
Must be fit to work in the healthcare setting.