North DSM News

Paramount EMS and Loras College have embarked on a partnership that broadens opportunities for community members interested in and/or seeking a career in Emergency Medical Services.

Paramount EMS was recently approved by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Emergency Medical and Trauma Services as a Training Program for EMS education and will be providing initial EMS education in partnership with Loras College under Paramount EMS (PEMS) Academy starting in May 2023. PEMS Academy’s education program will be offered on the campus of Loras College.

This innovative partnership addresses a crippling workforce shortage that not only affects our nation’s EMS system but directly affects our community when many agencies are faced with unfilled and vacant EMS positions. Agencies continue to exhaust hiring lists and are forced to try to navigate open positions that are left unfilled.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the next years, EMS will experience a projected growth of 7% for overall employment. The job outlook for EMTs and paramedics currently averages about 20,000 openings each year throughout the United States over the last decade. The demand for EMS services continues to increase significantly, and we must be creative in finding solutions.

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services reviewed the submitted application and recently conducted a Site Visit to PEMS Academy and Loras College. This review process includes an in-depth assessment of the EMS programming to ensure that the education provided meets acceptable levels of quality. This process assesses not only the quality of the education institution, but includes a quality assessment of the programs, services, faculty and administration measuring them against agreed-upon standards and thereby assuring that they meet and/or exceed those standards. Collectively together the review and the Site Visit practice are tools intended to help assure a well-prepared and qualified workforce to provide EMS services.

“Incredible experience,” “amazing and phenomenal,” are a sampling of the statements from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Review and Site Visit Team.

The primary focus of this EMS programming is to provide an Emergency Medical Technician course. Upon successful completion of the course students will be eligible for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Services (NREMT) cognitive and psychomotor examinations in pursuit of their certification to practice as a certified EMT.

An EMT possesses the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation. EMTs function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight. EMTs perform interventions with the basic equipment typically found in an ambulance. An EMT is a link from the scene to the emergency health care system. Collectively it is PEMS Academy and Loras College’s aspiration to provide initial EMS education that is accessible, exceptional, and economical. Together they have assembled a faculty group that is highly qualified, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and respected in the delivery of EMS education.

To apply for the Paramount EMS Academy, click here.

Original source can be found here.