VILLANOVA EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (VEMS)
The Villanova Emergency Medical Service (VEMS) is a 100% student-run, University-supported volunteer ambulance service licensed and dedicated to providing Basic Life Support care to the Villanova University campus community.Â
Villanova EMS can provide EMT(s) for standby at your on campus event! An EMT who stands by at your event can provide quick access to basic medical care, in addition to being able to treat patients at a higher level of care before the arrival of an ambulance.
Villanova EMS provides this service at a flat rate of $120 for up to the first four hours, and $30 for every hour thereafter. If you are requesting more than one EMT, each EMT will be paid at this rate.
All standby requests are submitted to the Scheduling Lieutenant who will determine if any EMT is available to fulfill your request. We cannot guarantee that any request with less than 72 hours notice will be filled. All requests made 72 hours before the start of an event should be able to be covered by an EMT unless there are extenuating circumstances.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, you may contact the Scheduling Lieutenant directly via email.
Submit a Request for a CPR Class using the online form.
Several members of Villanova EMS are trained and certified to instruct the American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers CPR Course as a certification or re-certification course. This course teaches individuals how to properly perform CPR on adults, children and toddlers. This course is the preferred training certification for those interested in working in emergency medicine, the healthcare field, lifeguarding, babysitting, and many other professions.
CPR classes are scheduled frequently for the public. Please contact the Operations Liaison to find out more information on how you can sign up individually for a CPR class and for the most up to date list of scheduled classes. The recertification class is free for members of Villanova EMS.
The Villanova Emergency Medical Service (VEMS) is a state-certified Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance licensed to provide emergency medical care on Villanova's campus. All care directly provided by Villanova EMS is free of charge to all patients.
Basic Life Support (BLS) and the EMT
An emergency medical technician (EMT) is an emergency responder trained to provide emergency medical services to the critically ill and injured. The modern EMT responds to many types of emergency calls, including medical emergencies, hazardous materials exposure, childbirth, child abuse, fires, vehicle and confined space rescues, injuries, trauma and psychiatric crises.
The goal of EMT intervention is to rapidly evaluate a patient's condition and to maintain a patient's airway, breathing and circulation by CPR and defibrillation. In addition, EMT intervention aims to control external bleeding, prevent shock, and prevent further injury or disability by immobilizing potential spinal or other bone fractures, while expediting the safe and timely transport of the patient to a hospital emergency department for definitive medical care.
An EMT's actions in the field are governed by state and local regulations and by the policies of their EMS organization. The development of these rules is guided by a physician, often with the advice of a medical advisory committee. A physician acting in direct supervision of an EMT program is referred to as a Medical Director and the supervision provided is referred to as Medical Direction.
Advanced Life Support (ALS) and the Paramedic
A paramedic is an emergency medical technician certified to the highest level of training and responds to medical and trauma emergencies in the pre-hospital setting for the purpose of stabilizing a patient's condition before and during transportation to an appropriate medical facility, usually by ambulance.
Paramedics most often will transport patients to an emergency department, but "treat-and-release" practice can occasionally occur. Paramedics work through standard written protocols from which they usually cannot deviate, but they may use their judgment in the best interest of the patient. Paramedics derive the legal ability to provide advanced life support (ALS) care through a physician's license. Paramedics can work for a city or municipality, a private company, or can be employees of a hospital. Because of the length and intensity of training, most paramedics are not volunteers.
2023-24 Student Executive Board
Captain: Andrew Furie '25
Training Lieutenant: Mackenzie Weidel '25
Equipment Lieutenant: Sally Boucher '25
Scheduling Lieutenant: Michael Colbert '26
Operations Liaison: Grace Denninger '26
Treasurer: Austin Kanyuh '26
Secretary: Sofia Sanchez '26
Faculty and Staff Advisers
Adviser
Ofc. Richard Finfrock
Email: Ofc. Richard Finfrock
Rick took over as the Coordinator for Emergency Medical Services and Adviser to Villanova EMS in Fall of 2012. Rick has held many positions in police, fire, and EMS service, including his current position as the Chief of Police at Christiana Borough.
In his role as Adviser, Rick supervises the professional, developmental, and administrative aspects of the organization. Working closely with the elected members of the Executive Board, he manages the operational and discretionary budgets, assists with the development and implementation of programming, and promotes responsible and informed decision-making among Board members. He also serves as the primary liaison to University faculty, staff, and administration, as well as the Director of Public Safety.
Quality Assurance
Al Davey, Deputy Chief, Narberth Ambulance
Al became the QA Liaison in the Spring of 2013, and currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Narberth Ambulance in Ardmore, Pa. Al is a state and nationally certified paramedic, having worked at Narberth Ambulance for nearly twenty years. Al brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in EMS to Villanova EMS on both the practical and administrative levels.
Al's primary role is to ensure Villanova EMS's compliance with local, state and federal laws governing ambulance usage and operation. Al is the primary individual responsible for reviewing all documenting paperwork that is written after each call. Al meets with the executive board bi-weekly to review these documents and other matters at hand.
Medical Director
Dr. Joseph Bushra
Joseph Bushra, MD became the Medical Director for VEMS in 2018. Dr. Bushra serves as the Chief of Emergency Medicine at Lankenau Medical Center as well as the Medical Director for Narberth Ambulance. He is responsible for ensuring clinical compliance and quality assurance of the organization.
Villanova EMS is constantly looking for students committed to helping others. Our members gain valuable leadership skills, knowledge, and experience as they deliver professional and quality care. EMS experience is not required, and all majors are welcome.
Members are expected to:
- Be (or become) trained/certified in CPR
- Obtain initial EMT certification or complete necessary reciprocity paperwork within one year of joining
Meet a monthly minimum duty requirement of one shift per month (roughly 14 hours)
Attend monthly training and general membership meetings.
All members are required to seek a higher level of training as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) within one year of being accepted to VEMS. Accepted VEMS students are guided through logistics of signing up for EMT-B class, most frequently offered in the fall and spring through Twin Valley EMT Training Center.
VEMS accepts applications once per year, typically beginning at the start of the fall semester. Please contact the Operations Liaison for any additional questions that you may have about VEMS Recruitment. The VEMS application process is broken into several steps, which are detailed below:
Step I: Informational
Come meet and talk with us to learn more about what Villanova EMS is all about! You can find more information at the fall activity fair (August).
Step II: Submit an Application
Once you have decided that you want to join Villanova EMS, you must apply to begin the formal application process. Applications typically are active in late August and are open through mid-September.
Step III: First Round Interview
After your application has been submitted, you will be contacted to schedule a first-round, informal 15-minute interview where you'll meet with 2-3 Villanova EMS members. This is also your opportunity to ask questions to learn more about our organization.
Step IV: Second Round Interview
Villanova EMS Executive Board members will learn more about you, your reasons for wanting to join Villanova EMS and gauge your commitment level during second round interviews. If chosen, second round interviews typically last about 20-30 minutes.
Step V: Ride Along
An offer to participate in a ride-along will be extended to the final pool of the most qualified and exceptional candidates. Ride-alongs offer an additional opportunity for you to get to know Villanova EMS better and for VEMS to get to know you.
Step VI: Admission
After ride-alongs, a final group of individuals will be selected for admission into Villanova EMS. Final admission will be conditional upon successful completion of a federal background check and school disciplinary review. A new member orientation day will be scheduled for all newly accepted members.
Emergency Medical Technician Certification Class
Any individual is allowed to sign up for the EMT class, although first preference is given to individuals directly affiliated with Villanova EMS or the Villanova Department of Public Safety. VEMS members who become cleared EMTs in our organization are eligible for EMT-B class reimbursement provided they passed the class while an active member of VEMS.
For more information about the EMT class, please contact the Training Lieutenant.
Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC)
For current VEMS members and other eligible EMS and Public Safety personnel, an EVOC class is taught each semester on campus. This course includes an in-person classroom lecture, followed by a practical driving portion. EVOC is the first certification one needs to obtain in order to become eligible to drive the ambulance. EVOC is provided free of charge to all VEMS members who are interested.
For more information about EVOC, or how to sign up, please contact the Training Lieutenant.
Stop the Bleed Class
Many of our members are trained to instruct American College of Surgeons’ Stop the Bleed classes. This course teaches students how to properly control a bleed prehospitally by applying direct pressure & applying tourniquets to extremities. This course is a great avenue for general emergency preparedness, as you may encounter a bleed at any point in your daily life.
Stop the Bleed classes are scheduled frequently for the public and can be organized through VEMS for student organizations or individuals.
Please contact the Operations Liaison to find out more information on how you can sign up for a Stop the Bleed Class.
EMERGENCY CONTACTS
In an emergency, call Villanova Public Safety at 610-519-4444.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (800-273-TALK)