This week is National EMS Week, and EMSA is celebrating the launch of its first-ever in-house EMT training program.
EMSA is working to put more EMTs on the road with the EMSA advantage program, where students spend nine weeks in the classroom with zero tuition and out-of-pocket fees.
The EMSA advantage program is a partnership with OSU Fire Service Training. During the nine-week program, recruits are paid to earn while they learn.
"Give some people an opportunity to become EMTs that may have otherwise not been able to afford to go to school, work part-time and go to class, things like that, give them an opportunity to pay them, to come in, get the education necessary to become EMTs in our system," said Clinical Instructor for EMSA EMT program, Michael Wilson.
This program aims to help fill the critical gap in EMSA workers,
"Covid obviously took a big hit on us, kind of hurt the healthcare system, schools, schools shut down during covid, less students were coming out into the EMS workforce," said Wilson.
According to the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, in 2020 there were almost 59,000 first time certified EMTs, in 2021 those numbers dropped to less than 5,000 EMTs.
"There's been a complete decline in how many people are actually testing nationwide, not just here in Oklahoma City, or in the state," said Wilson.
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The program is working to bridge that gap.
EMSA Advantage students agree to an 18-month contract with EMSA in exchange for the tuition-free EMT school.
"I can focus on the school, and not really worry about the financial end and be able to really focus on my academics," said EMSA Advantage student, Chris Prutzman.
After completing classroom and field training, EMTs must be cleared and pass national registry tests to begin working field shifts.
The next EMSA Advantage program is currently planned to start in early fall 2022. Those interested can click here for more information.
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