SKEMS Examination Policies – Exam Staff
Site Coordinator Qualifications and Expectations
A. Site Coordinator needs to be an EMS attendant with management skills.
B. Site Coordinators will be the SKEMS representative at the exam. The Exam Site Coordinator will be appointed by SKEMS and will need to possess management skills and have received KBEMS approved training to function in this capacity.
C. All Site Coordinators are expected to remain fair and objective in their position of Site Coordinator over the test site.
D. Site Coordinators not meeting accepted, professional standards of behavior regarding their interaction with Examiners, Examiner Assistants and Examination Candidates are subject to suspension or revocation of Site Coordinator privileges at the discretion of SKEMS.
E. Approved Site Coordinators will be required to attend all training and update sessions scheduled by SKEMS.
F. Approved Site Coordinators will actively participate in a minimum of two (2) certification examination sites during each calendar year.
G. An Instructor-Coordinator whose students are on site to be tested may not serve in the role of Site Coordinator for that Examination Site.
Role of the Site Coordinator
A. Make sure that the equipment for the station is present, clean and in good working order.
B. Make sure that there is adequate space for examinations stations and that the stations are marked with signs.
C. Over see the timely movement of all candidates through the skills stations.
D. Will be present on site during the examination and may not serve as an assistant at an examination.
E. Be alert for examination problems or potential problems, including conflicts of interest, examiner bias and candidate complaints. Check on the noise level around a station.
F. Ensure practical examination security. Serving as a point of contact for candidates.
G. Collect and review all skills sheets. The Site coordinator will make the final decision if there is a difference of opinion on pass or fail recommendation after all paper work has been review and researched.
H. Gives results to candidates. The information given back to candidates is if points, time or critical criteria has been met or not met.
I. Follow up on all paper work, sign and document bubble sheets. When all paper work is completed mail required paperwork to SKEMS.
Site Coordinator Dress Code
A. Site Coordinators should attend examinations in professional attire dress clothes. No tee shirts, shorts, or clothing that has holes in it will be allowed.
SKEMS Exam Coordinator.
The SKEMS Exam Coordinator has the final say on all issues and test sites. The SKEMS exam Coordinator will conduct exam visits and training sections to help maintain quality control.
Site Assistant Qualifications and Expectations
A. Site Assistant needs to be able to follow through with tasks assigned by the Site Coordinator.
B. Needs to have some organization skills
C. Needs to be able to follow through with confidently issues.
Site Assistants Dress Code
A. Site Assistant should attend examinations in professional or business dress clothes. No tee shirts, shorts, or clothing that has holes in it.
Regional Coordinators Qualifications and Expectations
A. Will be the SKEMS contact person in each Region. This position will be appointed by SKEMS.
B. Regional Coordinators will assist the SKEMS Exam Coordinator with scheduling of test sites in there assigned area.
C. Regional Coordinators will help find locations, equipment and examination personal needed at the exam sites in there area.
D. Regional Coordinators may serve as an Site Coordinator or as an Examiner if they met requirements.
E. Regional Coordinator will work with the SKEMS Exam Coordinator to solve problems and to improve the testing process.
F. Regional Coordinators will assist the SKEMS Exam Coordinator with scheduling training for testing personal in their area.
G. Regional Coordinators will be responsible for the paper work needed for the exam site. The paper work needed can be obtained through the SKEMS Exam Coordinator.Regional Coordinators serving at an Examination Site will follow the SKEMS policies for the position they are filling.
Examiner Qualifications and Expectations
A. Only individuals certified by the Kansas Board of EMS as an Instructor/Coordinator who have completed the required examiner training process will be approved to act as examiners.
B. Examiners will only examine candidates to the Examiner’s level of certification.
C. All Examiners are expected to remain fair and objective in their evaluation of examination candidate performance.
D. Examiners not meeting accepted, professional standards of behavior regarding their interaction with other Examiners, Examiner Assistants and Examination Candidates are subject to suspension or revocation of examiner privileges at the discretion of SKEMS.
E. Approved Examiners will be required to attend all training and update sessions scheduled by SKEMS.
F. Approved Examiners will actively participate in a minimum of two (2) certification examination sites during each calendar year.
Role of the Examiner
A. Make sure that the equipment for the station is present, clean and in good working order.
B. Arranging the space surrounding the examination area to ease the candidate access to the patient and evaluator visualization of the examination area.
C. Coaching the patient to ensure proper role playing.
D. Interaction with the candidate to help focus them on the patient for active skill demonstration.
E. Accurately recording observations regarding candidate performance on the practical skill evaluation sheets.
F. Consulting with the Site Coordinator on difficulties with candidate performance, environmental problems or difficulty making a determination about a candidate’s performance.
G. Ensuring a safe examination environment for candidates and staff.
H. At the conclusion of the examination helps with equipment storage or packing.
Examiners Dress Code
A. Examiners should attend examinations in professional attire dress clothes. No tee shirts, shorts, or clothing that has holes in it will be allowed.
Examiner, Site Assistant, Site Coordinator and Regional Coordinator Compensation
A. Examiners and Site Coordinator will be paid $20.00 per hour (with four hour minimum) to conduct an examination at a scheduled examination site.
B. Examiners, Site Assistant and Site Coordinator traveling one way will receive the following expense reimbursement to cover cost of travel:
Up to 75 miles one way you'll receive $100.00
76 miles to 150 miles you'll receive $150.00
151 miles to 200 miles you'll receive $200.00
201 miles to 300 miles or more you'll receive $250.00
C. Examiners, Site Assistant and Site Coordinator conducting an examination at a scheduled examination site that requires an over night stay will be reimbursed for night lodging up to $80.00 per night.
D. Site Assistant will be paid $10.00 per hour and reimbursed for night lodging up to $80.00 per night if needed
E. Regional Coordinators will be paid $100.00 per test site and training site for their assigned area. .
F. Payroll vouchers will be completed and signed by the Site Coordinator at each examination site. Vouchers with hotel receipts will be submitted to the SKEMS office by the Site coordinator. Payroll will be done monthly.
Problem Solving
A. Candidates are allowed (20) minutes for the combined airway and patient assessment stations and (20) minutes for fracture management. A station that exceeds the time limit should be stopped and the candidate told the examination has exceeded time limitations. The action should be recorded in the comment section of the skill sheets as well as the ending time and the performance completed. All items not completed are not awarded points.
B. Candidates may occasionally become angry during the examination process, typically this anger is directed inward because of perceived self deficiencies. When anger becomes outwardly directed towards others in an examination station or the examination site, the candidate must be counseled by the Site Coordinator. The Site Coordinator will address the candidate’s anger and attempt to resolve any difficulties. If the candidate’s behavior becomes increasingly disruptive or makes threatening statements or shows violence the candidate will be suspended from the examination site. A complete incident report will be filed in writing by the Site Coordinator, Evaluator, and all personal involved and sent to the Examination Coordinator for SKEMS and the BEMS Examination Coordinator. Law Enforcement can be notified per the discretion of the Site Coordinator.
C. A candidate who leaves the examination station during the examination process without the consent of the evaluator will be scored as having failed the station. A notation will be made in the comments section of the skills sheet and the Site coordinator notified.
D. Equipment occasionally will break or malfunction during the examination process. If this occurs the clock is stopped until replacement equipment is received or fixed. Candidate performance will not be detrimentally impacted by broken or non-functional equipment.
E. Candidate’s performance will not be detrimentally impacted by the actions of assistance UNLESS directed by the candidate to complete the task.
Examiner Assistant and Patient Qualifications and Expectations
A. Any individual acting as an examiner assistant must be a certified EMS attendant in the State of Kansas. Patients need to be 18 years old and do not need to be a EMS attendant.
B. Examiner assistants and patients should arrive at the examination site by 0800 hours
C. Examiner assistant and patients will work under the supervision of the assigned Examiner and the individual Site Coordinator and an orientation will be given.
D. Examiner assistants and patients will follow any and all instructions given to them by the assigned Examiner or individual Site Coordinator regarding interaction with examination candidates. Professional behavior is required.
E. Examiner assistants and patients are expected to perform throughout the day, actions that include sitting, standing, kneeling, squatting and lying on the floor. Clothing should be worn that will allow free movement and modesty. Clothing items such as spaghetti-strap, midriff, low-cut tops, low-rise pants, etc. can not be worn.
F. Examiner assistants and patients will be in close proximity to each other and examination candidates, therefore good personal hygiene is a necessity. Jewelry, such as earrings should be removed to allow for c-collar placement.
G. Examiner assistants and patients shall turn off cell phones, pagers, and computers while examination candidate is in the examination room
H. Examiner assistants and patients shall not have conversation with each while examination candidate is in the examination room.
I. Examiner assistants and patients shall not ask the Examiner about the examination candidate performance; however answer any questions the Examiner may ask you.
J. Examiner assistants will receive continuing education hours for their participation at the examination site. This will be based off of the Board of EMS regulations for continuing education hours. This will be for time in the examination room.
K. Examiner assistants must sign in on a provided form and fill out a survey to receive a continuing education certificate from the Site Coordinator.
L. Examiner assistants and patients that encounter any problems, complaints or concerns while at an examination site must notify the Site Coordinator immediately.
M. Examiner assistants and patients will not receive monetary compensation from SKEMS for their time, mileage, meals (lunch only during examination site will be provided), or lodging to participate in the examination process.
This is subject to change as the need occurs. Adopted August 22, 2011.