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 Mobile Intensive Care Unit
The Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) was founded in March of 1982 with the unit known as Medic Ten. Medic Nine joined MICU in April of 1997.
The paramedic units are staffed by two certified paramedics at all times. The Mobile Intensive Care Department is part of a consortium of hospitals in the Union, Middlesex, Essex, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties that has a regional dispatch center in Summit, NJ called CenCom (Central Communications). A request for medical assistance is routed through a local 9-1-1 dispatch center, usually at each town’s police department. If the request is serious in nature, the dispatcher puts through a request for advance life support (ALS) for the paramedic unit that covers that municipality. Currently, Medic Nine and Ten respond to over 6000 requests and treat more than 3000 patients annually. Paramedics perform procedures that include: cardiac monitoring, defibrillation, synchronized cardioversion, external cardiac pacing, 12 lead EKG, phlebotomy, tracheal intubation, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), intravenous therapy, intraosseous access, chest decompression, medication administration through IV, IM, SQ, oral, rectal central venous and transdermal mechanisms, and pulse oximetry.
Paramedic Training and Certification
 Paramedic certification begins with certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). EMT training involves basic life support skills, including splinting, blood pressure and pulse monitoring, oxygen administration among others. After a minimum of at least a year of EMT experience, one may apply to be
a paramedic.
In New Jersey, the prospective student must be sponsored by a MICU hospital for training. The training includes classroom and clinical training. The classroom portion is the equivalent of 37 credit hours and takes approximately two college semesters. After successful completion of the classroom program, the student begins a minimum of 600 to 800 hours of clinical training at the sponsoring hospital.
The clinical training involves laboratory, EKG, operating room, ICU, labor and delivery, pediatrics, emergency department and, of course, MICU. Upon successful completion of the clinical training, the student is eligible to sit for national paramedic testing. The testing process has a written portion and a practicum.
Paramedics are certified for two year periods. During that time they must acquire 48 hours of continuing education to be recertified. In addition, they must remain certified in Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) or CPR. The New Jersey Department of Health regulates the training and other rules for paramedic service.
Contact us: medic@rwjuhr.com
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