EMT Certification is Approved for HA Students!
The LCCTC Health Assistant Program has exciting news! After many months of preparation, the HA program has passed the audit and all of the requirements needed; we can now add that we are an approved training institute for an EMT Class!
THE JOURNEY:
The idea of hosting an EMT course began as little more than a dream five years ago. That dream turned into a discussion between the HA instructors. Then, it became a possibility, and a plan, and a presentation, and today, a reality, but it has been these final steps leading to approval that have been quite the journey to complete. With anything that involves a state audit, it can be challenging to ensure all of the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed.
THANK YOU:
LCCTC had immense support from Noga Ambulance during the process and would like to thank them for assisting with equipment needs and guidance and to ensure we had our items ready to be viewed.
“Thank you,” also goes to Mr. Milanovich (principal) and Mr. Rich (director) who gave the initial go-ahead in allowing us to purchase all necessary equipment needed along with their assistance to make sure that all policies and manuals were put into place.
The Health Assistant Department worked as a team to practice and present the program to the auditors from EMS West to make sure that every item was in the correct location in order to pass; because of this, the auditing process was seamless. “Mrs O’Donnel [HA co-teacher] was my rock yesterday,” states Mr. Pavia, HA instructor. “She made sure that every item was in the correct location in order to pass this audit and helped conduct a ‘dry run’ audit.” Because of this, the HA department can now offer an additional certification within our healthcare industry.
SET UP FOR SUCCESS:
LCCTC’s Health Assistance department was commended for their efforts as they are the first training institute in the EMS West Region to offer the EMT program at a CTC included into our Health Assistant Program. In contrast, most CTC's that offer EMT training are part of a Public Safety program. In those programs, the focus of study is on Police, Fire and EMS services; historically, the pass rate for EMT is not great in those programs in other CTC’s because only a small portion of the program is devoted to EMS. However, the Health Assistant program at LCCTC, where all three years are medical-training geared, the expectation is to have higher success rates proven by pass-rates resulting in gainful employment.
“For many years, the EMT pay was minimal, and that made it tough to support; however, this has changed,” states Pavia. “It’s the right time now to pursue accreditation.”
Noga has agreed to be a field training institute with our students for the upcoming school year, which would hopefully lead to employment.
WHO CAN TAKE THIS COURSE?
This course will be offered at this time to third year Health Assistant students as an elective; it is not a mandatory course. If a Health Assistant student wishes to go on co-op learning with their CNA, they are able to and will have met the graduation requirements for the program. This EMT class, which features very strict attendance policies and rules of conduct, will be an additional training for students while they remain in school. Students who are current 2nd year juniors or 1st year sophomores will be able to pursue this certification. It will be taught in 3rd year Semester 1. We will plan to complete our first program in January of 2022.
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Health Assistant students have been hoping for opportunity and the buzz of this exciting new certification program is quickly spreading!
If YOU know of any student entering the 10th grade next year who is interested in entering the health field, who can work well under pressure, who is a team player and can adapt to the unexpected, and who has a strong work ethic — encourage them to check out our Health Assistant program!