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| CIEMT Students Benefit From Director's Foresight By Ofelia Saenz, Signal Tribune staff writer 
As Matthew Goodman prepared to open the California Institute of Emergency Medical Training, he did so with the anticipation that his program would have to address the changes in testing that went into effect in January of this year. Goodman, who has been a certified EMT since 1999, has taught in a number of Emergency Medical Training programs, including his alma mater UCLA Center for Prehospital Care. He is also on the Skills Advisory Committee for the Los Angeles Department of Health Services EMS Agency. "I pretty much saw this coming," said Goodman. He predicted that the statewide transition from individual county exams to the national registry exam would result in a drop in the number of candidates who pass the test and are thus eligible for certification. He said, as of one and a half months ago, the state passing-rate was a bleak 38 percent. "It doesn't help the students to come take an EMT class if they can't pass the national registry exam," said Goodman. "The entire thrust of this course is to facilitate the student's passing of national registry exam," without which they cannot become certified. According to Goodman, one of the differences between county exams and the now standard national exams is the format of the questions; although they continue to be multiple-choice tests, the questions tend to be more difficult than before because they are scenario based. Goodman prepares his students by teaching them to approach the questions cognitively as opposed to simply memorizing questions and answers. Goodman also utilizes a computer based testing system that uses remote control boxes; this not only allows the students to get immediate feedback and thereby learn quicker from their mistakes, it also supplies the instructor with statistics that enable him to fine-tune the curriculum accordingly. Goodman said starting next year, all national registry testing facilities will be using the same system. Prospective students are invited to attend an open house at the California Institute of Emergency Medical Training on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Food and beverages will be served, and students will have an opportunity to tour the spacious facility as well as meet and speak with the program's director, Matthew Goodman. The school is located at 2669 Myrtle Avenue, Suite 201 and 202, in Signal Hill. For more information, call (562) 989-1520 or visit their website at www.ciemt.com. |