Greenville Technical College and Prisma Health have come together to train the next generation of emergency medical technicians.
The partnership aims to address the EMT workforce shortage in South Carolina. According to the South Carolina Emergency Medical Services Association, there are not enough trained EMS professionals entering the workforce to fill the positions left by those leaving the field due to burnout, other careers or retirement.
A new course will be offered at Prisma Health’s Greenville campus to prepare students to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians exam to become a certified EMT in South Carolina. The course will be available in the fall and spring academic semesters and taught by Prisma employees.
Students enrolled in the course will complete hands-on training in real-world scenarios to learn the role and responsibilities of an EMT. The course also exposes students to the psychological, social, behavioral, economic and environmental factors that impact a person’s health.
The Corporate and Continuing Education division at Greenville Technical College is actively recruiting and onboarding students to the program. Jennifer Moorefield, associate vice president of corporate and continuing education, said 50 people have signed up for the fall cohort and are currently being vetted. Some of the students will be eligible for state grants and scholarships through the college.
Greenville Technical College also partners with Greenville County EMT to offer education opportunities. For more information, visit ce.gvltec.edu/training/health-care/EMT.html.
This story was filed as part of an editorial partnership between South Carolina Public Radio and the Greenville Journal, which is responsible for its content. You can learn more about the Greenville Journal here.
Disclaimer: Greenville Technical College is a financial supporter of SC Public Radio.