Grant offers skills course for EMS professionals, technicians
In response to statewide shortage of paramedics West Virginia Community and Technical College faculty and local medical services answered the call by taking part in a hands-on airway management course, which is funded by a West Virginia Advance Rapid Response Workforce Development Grant. The Difficult Airway Course, hosted by BridgeValley Community and Technical College, allows participants to learn how to maneuver failed airways and emphasizes rescue strategies with five mobile healthcare simulators.
“It’s a great way to offer ongoing education and partner with current EMS providers,” said Jon Fannin, EMS program director at BridgeValley Community and Technical College. “The great thing about the Rapid Response grant is that it allows businesses to partner with their local CTC and address workforce needs to focus on immediate training needs and job retention.”
Skills course participants include staff from BridgeValley, Mountwest, Northern and Southern CTCs, along with West Virginia Office of Emergency Management, American College of Emergency Physicians, HealthNet, Cabell and Kanawha County Emergency Medical Services.
It’s really helpful that CTCs are offering continuing education courses through their workforce development programs,” said Michael Tanner, a technician with Ritchie County EMS.
