Mock Proposal-- Student EMS Organization
Following is a Mock Proposal write-up, which was an assignment for Gateway to University Honors. The intent of this proposal was to introduce students to correct practices when writing proposals for the University Honors Program. This proposal serves as practice for future proposals, not as an actual proposal for a current project. The Mock Proposal is copied below on this page and is also provided as a word document.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Basic Information
Name: Samuel Perry
UC Email: [email protected]
College: McMicken College of Arts and Science
Major: German Studies and Biomedical Studies
Title of Project: UC Student EMS Organization
Thematic Area: Leadership
Expected Project Start Date: January 1, 2014
Expected Project End Date: January 1, 2015
Project Information
1. Abstract
The final goal of this project is to organize a fully functional emergency medical services (EMS) organization for the University of Cincinnati (UC) Main Campus. The EMS organization would consist of a group of volunteer student emergency medical technicians (EMTs), who would respond to both emergency and non-emergency medical calls on campus during the weekends and at night. Because this would be a fully functional EMS program, much planning, training, research and publication will be required in order to establish it.
Being an EMT, I have a deep passion for helping people in their time of need. Having only been on campus for one semester, I have already provided medical care to a fair amount of students. I have dealt with anything from asthma attacks to small lacerations. I am always more than willing to provide care to anyone who needs me, but I sometimes wonder what the students would have done had I not been able to help. Therefore, I have come to find an issue with availability of medical care on campus. During regular office hours, students have access to the Lindner Clinic if they need medical care. After hours, however, options are limited. Students are left with three alternatives: call EMS (9-1-1), drive themselves to the hospital, or try to handle the issue alone. Furthermore, if there is a true emergency, some students are not fully aware of the need to call EMS.
For many cases, it would be beneficial to have a student EMT team respond and assess the situation, in order to determine what (if any) further action should be taken. For example if a student accidentally cut his finger on the weekend, the student EMS organization could be called to treat the student’s wound and determine if he needs advanced care. In the case of a medical emergency, the student EMS group could respond quickly and begin immediate life-saving treatment before paramedics arrive. Overall, the student EMS organization would provide the UC students with a good resource for medical care during the weekends and during the night.
In order to establish this organization, much research would have to be conducted during the planning phase. Most of the research would consist of the effectiveness of student EMS systems and why such a group would be beneficial to this campus, which would be presented to the University in order to get its approval for the formation of the EMS organization. Once approval is obtained, more research would go into the formation of the organization itself: such as medical and legal considerations, as well as student volunteer availability. This would require at least thirty hours, including research time, writing time and presentation time.
The establishment phase of the project would consist of building the framework for the EMS organization. Work done in this phase would consist of finding a medical director, writing protocol and guidelines and developing a response method. Although this may not sound like a lot of work, meticulous considerations must go into every aspect of the organization in order to ensure a high quality EMS system. Therefore, this phase could take upwards of fifty hours.
As for reflection throughout the project, it would be necessary to meet on a regular basis with an expert in the EMS field. At these meetings, progress would be discussed; problems would be identified; and solutions to any obstacles would be created. Due to the nature of an EMS system, the reflection time with this mentor would be critical to the establishment of the program. In terms of personal reflection, I plan on keeping a log of any work I do for the project, as well as a description of the progress. Reflection for this project would take around fifteen hours.
2. Connection to Learning Outcomes within Honors Thematic Area
· Has the ability to relate, communicate and work effectively with peers
The establishment of any organization requires immense cooperation and communication. In order to present this organization to the University, excellent use of communication and rhetoric would be required to get approval. This aspect would also incorporate public speaking skills and techniques. In the development phase of the project, clear and open communication with co-founders will be critical for effective progress and avoiding of confusion. Lastly, communication techniques are required when communicating with those who serve as mentors for the organization. These individuals need to understand what exactly is happening, the progress that is being made, and if any issues need to be resolved.
· Develops a vision of the future and acknowledges the impact of decisions (as applicable to the individual and affiliated organizations)
This entire project is based on the vision of creating an EMS group to make a difference on the safety of UC Main Campus. The journey to achieving this vision will undoubtedly be challenging, and every step along the way will be critical to its success. Throughout the process, it will be important to analyze how each aspect of the project could affect the outcome of the organization or the care that the EMS program would provide. For example, when writing the operating procedure, it will be important to consider how certain practices could affect the response time to an emergency or the care provided at the scene.
3. Connection to Goals and Academic Theories
As I am planning on becoming an emergency medical physician, subspecializing in pre-hospital emergency care, the formation of a student EMS group would provide major personal development. Not only would I be able to learn more about EMS systems and emergency, but I would also gain insight into how to administer emergency care. Clearly, completing this project would provide me—as an undergraduate student— with unprecedented experience and insight into the world of emergency medicine. Furthermore, emergency medicine is certainly a deep passion of mine; it is truly one of my life callings. For this reason, this project would provide a means through which I could develop and live this passion on a daily basis before I move on to medical school.
Although I have a basic understanding of EMS systems because of my EMT certification class, it will be critical for me to develop a better understanding of leadership within EMS systems. For this reason, I have chosen to read the book Leadership Essentials for Emergency Medical Services by John Brophy. This resource is a textbook for continuing education for EMS providers and describes the process of transition from an EMS provider to a leader. Although it would not be accompanied by a course, reading this textbook will provide me with important theories and considerations when establishing this organization. In addition to reading this book, I would supplement the EMS-specific leadership information with more broad leadership information by reading Collaborative Leadership: How Citizens and Civic Leaders Can Make a Difference by David D. Chrislip and Carl E. Larson. After some brief research, it appears that this book could provide me with specific leadership theories as they apply to society. For example, the chapter “Setting the Stage for Success” could prove useful for the planning phase of this project.
4. Initiative, Independence and/or Creativity
The establishment of this organization shows great initiative and independence. Firstly, it is important to consider that I decided to found this organization because I noticed a lack of medical care on campus; I recognized an issue and took the initiative to create a solution. Secondly, this student organization is different than other EMS services in the area. Therefore, the creativity plays a role in designing how the student EMS organization will be used. In other words, creativity is needed in order to design the system. Instead of being dispatched through a traditional 9-1-1 system, the student EMS group would get dispatch calls from the UC Police dispatcher. Another element of creativity would be in the way the group responds. Instead of using a customary ambulance, the students would most likely respond either on bike, on an all-terrain vehicle, or by a university emergency vehicle. In accordance with these examples, the creativity element of this project consists of finding resourceful solutions due to the unique nature of this student EMS group.
5. Reflection
As stated in the Abstract, the majority of reflection for this project will consist of weekly written assessments and reflections on the project’s progression. On top of keeping track of all activities and efforts involved in the project, the weekly written reflections would analyze how I feel about what is occurring, what could be changed to improve the project, or what could be done that is not already being done. These reflections would essentially serve as a journal chronicling the progression, as well as a means of promoting active reflection throughout the process. Another form of reflection for this project will be occasional meetings with my advisor, during which we would discuss how the project is proceeding and what could be done better. As with all self-designed experiences, this experience will be documented in my learning portfolio by posting the weekly reflections. Additionally, a final reflection essay will be submitted and will analyze the entire process and reflect on how it helped me grow, both in terms of technical academic growth and personal growth.
6. Dissemination
The potential audience for the dissemination is two-fold: it can be presented to the University of Cincinnati and the EMS community. In terms of UC, I plan on presenting the student EMS organization at the student activities fair and other similar events. Doing so would not only provide an opportunity to share the process and what I learned from the project, but it would also raise awareness to the student body about the services available. Furthermore, I would attempt to present the organization during new student orientation in the form of a short video that the Office of Public Safety would present. Hopefully this would result in new students being aware of the availability of EMS.
When it comes to the EMS community, I will write a general report about the establishment of the organization and a presentation of its campus services. This report would then be sent to groups such as the National Collegiate EMS and the Journal of EMS in hopes that they would publicize it. Additionally, it would be important to present the operations of the group to the Cincinnati Fire Department and UC Mobile Care. The dissemination to these groups is not necessarily for publication, but rather for operations. In other words, it will be important to make them aware of the services we provide, and to describe how we can best work in cooperation. Therefore, although this will technically be included in the dissemination process, the goal is to create a working relationship in order to provide the best continuity of care between the different agencies if we ever need to work in cooperation.
7. Project Advisor
Although not yet confirmed for this project, a potential advisor for this project could be Larry Bennett, who is an Associate Professor/ Educator and Program Chair for the Fire Science and Emergency Management Program. His email is [email protected] and his phone number is (513) 470-2744. His expertise in EMS systems and legal requirements will be useful.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Word Document Version:
Basic Information
Name: Samuel Perry
UC Email: [email protected]
College: McMicken College of Arts and Science
Major: German Studies and Biomedical Studies
Title of Project: UC Student EMS Organization
Thematic Area: Leadership
Expected Project Start Date: January 1, 2014
Expected Project End Date: January 1, 2015
Project Information
1. Abstract
The final goal of this project is to organize a fully functional emergency medical services (EMS) organization for the University of Cincinnati (UC) Main Campus. The EMS organization would consist of a group of volunteer student emergency medical technicians (EMTs), who would respond to both emergency and non-emergency medical calls on campus during the weekends and at night. Because this would be a fully functional EMS program, much planning, training, research and publication will be required in order to establish it.
Being an EMT, I have a deep passion for helping people in their time of need. Having only been on campus for one semester, I have already provided medical care to a fair amount of students. I have dealt with anything from asthma attacks to small lacerations. I am always more than willing to provide care to anyone who needs me, but I sometimes wonder what the students would have done had I not been able to help. Therefore, I have come to find an issue with availability of medical care on campus. During regular office hours, students have access to the Lindner Clinic if they need medical care. After hours, however, options are limited. Students are left with three alternatives: call EMS (9-1-1), drive themselves to the hospital, or try to handle the issue alone. Furthermore, if there is a true emergency, some students are not fully aware of the need to call EMS.
For many cases, it would be beneficial to have a student EMT team respond and assess the situation, in order to determine what (if any) further action should be taken. For example if a student accidentally cut his finger on the weekend, the student EMS organization could be called to treat the student’s wound and determine if he needs advanced care. In the case of a medical emergency, the student EMS group could respond quickly and begin immediate life-saving treatment before paramedics arrive. Overall, the student EMS organization would provide the UC students with a good resource for medical care during the weekends and during the night.
In order to establish this organization, much research would have to be conducted during the planning phase. Most of the research would consist of the effectiveness of student EMS systems and why such a group would be beneficial to this campus, which would be presented to the University in order to get its approval for the formation of the EMS organization. Once approval is obtained, more research would go into the formation of the organization itself: such as medical and legal considerations, as well as student volunteer availability. This would require at least thirty hours, including research time, writing time and presentation time.
The establishment phase of the project would consist of building the framework for the EMS organization. Work done in this phase would consist of finding a medical director, writing protocol and guidelines and developing a response method. Although this may not sound like a lot of work, meticulous considerations must go into every aspect of the organization in order to ensure a high quality EMS system. Therefore, this phase could take upwards of fifty hours.
As for reflection throughout the project, it would be necessary to meet on a regular basis with an expert in the EMS field. At these meetings, progress would be discussed; problems would be identified; and solutions to any obstacles would be created. Due to the nature of an EMS system, the reflection time with this mentor would be critical to the establishment of the program. In terms of personal reflection, I plan on keeping a log of any work I do for the project, as well as a description of the progress. Reflection for this project would take around fifteen hours.
2. Connection to Learning Outcomes within Honors Thematic Area
· Has the ability to relate, communicate and work effectively with peers
The establishment of any organization requires immense cooperation and communication. In order to present this organization to the University, excellent use of communication and rhetoric would be required to get approval. This aspect would also incorporate public speaking skills and techniques. In the development phase of the project, clear and open communication with co-founders will be critical for effective progress and avoiding of confusion. Lastly, communication techniques are required when communicating with those who serve as mentors for the organization. These individuals need to understand what exactly is happening, the progress that is being made, and if any issues need to be resolved.
· Develops a vision of the future and acknowledges the impact of decisions (as applicable to the individual and affiliated organizations)
This entire project is based on the vision of creating an EMS group to make a difference on the safety of UC Main Campus. The journey to achieving this vision will undoubtedly be challenging, and every step along the way will be critical to its success. Throughout the process, it will be important to analyze how each aspect of the project could affect the outcome of the organization or the care that the EMS program would provide. For example, when writing the operating procedure, it will be important to consider how certain practices could affect the response time to an emergency or the care provided at the scene.
3. Connection to Goals and Academic Theories
As I am planning on becoming an emergency medical physician, subspecializing in pre-hospital emergency care, the formation of a student EMS group would provide major personal development. Not only would I be able to learn more about EMS systems and emergency, but I would also gain insight into how to administer emergency care. Clearly, completing this project would provide me—as an undergraduate student— with unprecedented experience and insight into the world of emergency medicine. Furthermore, emergency medicine is certainly a deep passion of mine; it is truly one of my life callings. For this reason, this project would provide a means through which I could develop and live this passion on a daily basis before I move on to medical school.
Although I have a basic understanding of EMS systems because of my EMT certification class, it will be critical for me to develop a better understanding of leadership within EMS systems. For this reason, I have chosen to read the book Leadership Essentials for Emergency Medical Services by John Brophy. This resource is a textbook for continuing education for EMS providers and describes the process of transition from an EMS provider to a leader. Although it would not be accompanied by a course, reading this textbook will provide me with important theories and considerations when establishing this organization. In addition to reading this book, I would supplement the EMS-specific leadership information with more broad leadership information by reading Collaborative Leadership: How Citizens and Civic Leaders Can Make a Difference by David D. Chrislip and Carl E. Larson. After some brief research, it appears that this book could provide me with specific leadership theories as they apply to society. For example, the chapter “Setting the Stage for Success” could prove useful for the planning phase of this project.
4. Initiative, Independence and/or Creativity
The establishment of this organization shows great initiative and independence. Firstly, it is important to consider that I decided to found this organization because I noticed a lack of medical care on campus; I recognized an issue and took the initiative to create a solution. Secondly, this student organization is different than other EMS services in the area. Therefore, the creativity plays a role in designing how the student EMS organization will be used. In other words, creativity is needed in order to design the system. Instead of being dispatched through a traditional 9-1-1 system, the student EMS group would get dispatch calls from the UC Police dispatcher. Another element of creativity would be in the way the group responds. Instead of using a customary ambulance, the students would most likely respond either on bike, on an all-terrain vehicle, or by a university emergency vehicle. In accordance with these examples, the creativity element of this project consists of finding resourceful solutions due to the unique nature of this student EMS group.
5. Reflection
As stated in the Abstract, the majority of reflection for this project will consist of weekly written assessments and reflections on the project’s progression. On top of keeping track of all activities and efforts involved in the project, the weekly written reflections would analyze how I feel about what is occurring, what could be changed to improve the project, or what could be done that is not already being done. These reflections would essentially serve as a journal chronicling the progression, as well as a means of promoting active reflection throughout the process. Another form of reflection for this project will be occasional meetings with my advisor, during which we would discuss how the project is proceeding and what could be done better. As with all self-designed experiences, this experience will be documented in my learning portfolio by posting the weekly reflections. Additionally, a final reflection essay will be submitted and will analyze the entire process and reflect on how it helped me grow, both in terms of technical academic growth and personal growth.
6. Dissemination
The potential audience for the dissemination is two-fold: it can be presented to the University of Cincinnati and the EMS community. In terms of UC, I plan on presenting the student EMS organization at the student activities fair and other similar events. Doing so would not only provide an opportunity to share the process and what I learned from the project, but it would also raise awareness to the student body about the services available. Furthermore, I would attempt to present the organization during new student orientation in the form of a short video that the Office of Public Safety would present. Hopefully this would result in new students being aware of the availability of EMS.
When it comes to the EMS community, I will write a general report about the establishment of the organization and a presentation of its campus services. This report would then be sent to groups such as the National Collegiate EMS and the Journal of EMS in hopes that they would publicize it. Additionally, it would be important to present the operations of the group to the Cincinnati Fire Department and UC Mobile Care. The dissemination to these groups is not necessarily for publication, but rather for operations. In other words, it will be important to make them aware of the services we provide, and to describe how we can best work in cooperation. Therefore, although this will technically be included in the dissemination process, the goal is to create a working relationship in order to provide the best continuity of care between the different agencies if we ever need to work in cooperation.
7. Project Advisor
Although not yet confirmed for this project, a potential advisor for this project could be Larry Bennett, who is an Associate Professor/ Educator and Program Chair for the Fire Science and Emergency Management Program. His email is [email protected] and his phone number is (513) 470-2744. His expertise in EMS systems and legal requirements will be useful.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Word Document Version:
Mock Proposal | |
File Size: | 20 kb |
File Type: | docx |
PDF Version:
mock_proposal.pdf | |
File Size: | 219 kb |
File Type: |