ASUMH - EMS Program

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

🚑 **WELCOME TO EMS — WHERE THE CHAOS IS EDUCATIONAL** 🚑

We officially welcomed our newest EMT students to the EMS Program, and this year we decided to do things a little differently.

Instead of simply handing everyone a syllabus, pointing toward Canvas, and saying, “Good luck out there,” we kicked off the semester with our **FIRST ANNUAL EMS BOOT CAMP!** 🎉🚑

And y’all… it was a SUCCESS.

Our students spent Boot Camp getting a taste of what EMS is really about: teamwork, communication, problem-solving, thinking on their feet, getting comfortable being uncomfortable, and discovering that sometimes the best plan lasts approximately 14 seconds. 😬

And based on what we saw during Boot Camp, we think we're off to a pretty great start. ❤️🚑

Of course, no EMS semester would be complete without at least one questionable educational decision from the instructors...

So we took them to court. ⚖️😂

Our EMT students participated in **“Lawsuits & Laryngoscopes,”** our EMS mock court experience designed to show them that patient care doesn't end when the ambulance doors close. Documentation matters. Communication matters. Decisions matter. And someday, somebody may ask you to explain exactly why you did what you did.

Preferably not while an instructor is pretending to prosecute you. 😏

A HUGE special thank-you goes to Paramedic student **Robby Dykhuis**, who volunteered his time to help us with EMS Boot Camp and somehow continued helping even after realizing what he'd gotten himself into. Robby jumped in wherever we needed him, helped our new EMT students, and even survived being **taken to court** with the rest of us. We appreciate you, Robby! 🚑👏

Most importantly, we're incredibly proud of this new group of EMT students. They've already worked hard, laughed with us, tolerated us, and gotten a much better appreciation for what EMS actually demands.

Welcome to the ASUMH EMS family.

You came here to learn how to be EMTs.

We have absolutely no intention of making that boring. 😈🚑

**EMS Boot Camp 2026: SUCCESS.**
Now the real fun begins.

Today, using building blocks, students had to communicate instructions to one another and quickly discovered that “No, put THAT piece over THERE!” is apparently not an internationally recognized medical command. 😂

It was a simple exercise with a very real EMS lesson: what you say, what you mean, and what the other person actually hears can be three completely different things. Clear communication matters when you're working with a partner, talking with patients and families, giving reports, or trying to coordinate a scene when everything around you is noisy and chaotic.

08/03/2026

🚨 The ASUMH EMS social media department would like to blame vacation... and maybe a complete loss of track of time... for being a little late with this celebration. 😄 Better late than never!

🎉 Congratulations to ASUMH EMS student Pam Spears! 🎉

Arkansas State University–Mountain Home EMS is proud to recognize Pam Spears on passing the National Registry EMT (NREMT) examination on her first attempt!

Many throughout North Central Arkansas already know Pam as the EMS Dispatch Coordinator for Baxter Health Ambulance, where she plays a critical role in supporting EMS crews and coordinating emergency responses. She has now added another impressive achievement by earning her National Registry certification as an EMT.

Passing the NREMT on the first attempt is a testament to countless hours of studying, dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to serving others. Pam's accomplishment reflects the hard work she invested throughout the program.

The ASUMH EMS Program is incredibly proud of Pam and is excited to see where this next chapter in her EMS career takes her.

Please join us in congratulating Pam on this outstanding achievement!

🚑 Congratulations, Pam! Your ASUMH EMS family is cheering you on every step of the way!

07/22/2026

A Letter from Mrs. Tasia ❤️

To ASUMH's paramedic students,

I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of each of you.

Over the last few weeks, I've watched you go from questioning every medication math problem to confidently working through medical scenarios, discussing possible diagnoses, and learning how to differentiate one condition from another. You're memorizing anatomy, diving into pharmacology, and somehow managing to juggle jobs, families, and life outside of class.

It isn't easy, and I know there are days when it feels like information is coming at you faster than you can process it. But every single scenario, quiz, and lab is building the provider you'll become.
And let's be honest... not every lesson has been serious. 😂

We've had Tiffany absolutely rocking a hot pink wig like she was auditioning for a daytime soap opera. We've had patients refusing to let go of their emotional support stick of butter (because apparently that's a thing now 🤷‍♀️). Somehow we've managed to turn our simulation lab into a place where we can laugh until our sides hurt one minute and have an incredibly serious discussion about differential diagnoses the next.
Those moments matter, too.

Medicine is hard. EMS is hard. If we can't laugh together while we're learning, we'll miss some of the best parts of the journey.

Thank you for showing up. Thank you for trusting me to teach you. Thank you for working hard, asking questions, and never giving up, even when the material feels overwhelming.

Keep pushing. Keep learning. Keep believing in yourselves. Fall is shaping to be a great semester and I am looking forward to not only what lives you save but, what you will accomplish in your careers.

It's an honor and I'm incredibly proud to be one of your instructors.

07/15/2026

🚨 ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST... 🚨

Congratulations to Haley Herren for passing her NREMT EMT cognitive exam on the FIRST TRY! 🎉🚑

Turns out all those PowerPoints, scenarios, airway drills, caffeine, questionable whiteboard drawings, and our collective emotional support sarcasm actually paid off.

Haley walked into the testing center, stared down the adaptive testing algorithm, and left with one less thing to worry about. The National Registry tried to play games... Haley politely declined. 💅

We're incredibly proud of the hard work, determination, and grit she's shown throughout the program. First-attempt passes don't happen by accident. They're earned one chapter, one skill, and one late-night study session at a time.

Help us congratulate Haley Herren, our newest EMT who has officially earned the right to explain to friends and family that "No, we don't just drive the ambulance." 🚑😂

07/08/2026

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07/08/2026

🚑 Your Next EMS Chapter Starts Here! 🚑

Have you been thinking about taking the next step in your EMS career? Whether you're ready to become an EMT or continue your journey as a Paramedic, now is the time to apply!

🚑 2027 Paramedic Program

Applications are now being accepted for the 2027 Paramedic Cohort.

🗓️ Application Deadline: August 1, 2026

If you're ready to advance your career, don't wait until the last minute. We'd love to answer your questions and help you through the application process.

🚑 EMT Program

Interested in becoming an EMT?

📚 The first day of class is August 18, 2026!

Seats are filling, so if you've been considering a career in EMS, apply soon to ensure you have time to complete the admissions process before classes begin.

Whether you're taking your first step into emergency medicine or preparing to become a paramedic, ASU-Mountain Home EMS is committed to providing hands-on learning, critical thinking, and real-world experience to prepare you for success.

For more information, please contact:

Tasia Charles
Interim EMS Program Director
📧 [email protected]
☎️ (870) 508-6269

We can't wait to help you begin—or continue—your EMS journey.

🚑 Your future patients are counting on someone. Why not let that someone be you?

07/08/2026

🚨 **Another day, another couple of National Registry victims...** 🚨

Congratulations to **Mike Spears** and **Derek Moore** for conquering the **National Registry EMT exam!** 🎉🚑

They survived the chapters. They survived the scenarios. They survived the skill stations, the lectures, the "but *why* is that the right answer?" discussions, and probably a few of Mr. David's rabbit trails.

Now they've survived the test that makes grown adults question everything they thought they knew.

Welcome to the ranks of the nationally registered! Your hard work, persistence, and determination paid off, and we couldn't be prouder.

Just remember... passing Registry doesn't mean you'll never hear us say, "So...tell me your differential diagnosis," ever again. 😏

Congratulations, Mike and Derek! Now go make a difference out there—we know you will.

🚑💙

07/01/2026

🚑💊 Paramedic Summer Semester Update: From Panic to Power Moves 💊🚑

We kicked off the summer semester with med math anxiety levels somewhere between "I don't understand this" and "I'm changing majors." Fast forward to today, and when drip rates were introduced, the response was:
"Well... that's not as bad as I expected."

Progress, people. Progress. 😂

This morning started with medication calculations, moved into a spirited game of Electrical Meatloaf Jeopardy, and ended with our Medication Murder Board—an exercise involving yarn, research, critical thinking, healthy debate, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting.

To the untrained eye, this picture may look like Tiffany Edington, Matt Mask, and Robby "Henny Penny" Dykhuis playing with yarn while one person scrolls on a cell phone. In reality, they're tracing medication effects across body systems, identifying contraindications, adverse effects, and discovering which drugs are trying to quietly assassinate your patient.

Today's shocking revelation: aspirin is apparently harder on the human body than adenosine. Who knew? Certainly not all of us when we walked into class this morning.

We haven't abandoned PowerPoints—we've just weaponized them. Our classroom now includes interactive lectures, critical thinking, research, arguing (professionally... mostly), and occasionally proving someone wrong with evidence.
Also, we'd like to officially announce that glaucoma throws a monkey wrench into EVERYTHING. Seriously. Everything.

Learning isn't always pretty. Sometimes it involves yarn, debate, caffeine, and controlled educational chaos. But if our students leave understanding why they're giving a medication instead of simply memorizing it, we've accomplished the mission.

🚑🧠

07/01/2026

🚑🎉 BREAKING NEWS FROM ASUMH EMS! 🎉🚑

Please join us in congratulating Aiden Tilley on becoming the first ASUMH EMT student to successfully pass the National Registry Psychomotor Examination under the brand-new 2026 NREMT EMT testing standards!

Aiden didn't just pass Registry, he blazed the trail for everyone coming behind him. The 2026 rollout brought new testing standards, new expectations, and probably a few extra gray hairs for the instructors... but Aiden rose to the challenge and knocked it out of the park! 💪

History has officially been made at ASUMH EMS, and we couldn't be prouder.

Congratulations, Aiden! Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance have paid off. Now go celebrate, you've earned it! 🎓🚑