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Anybody Else Find Something WRONG Here?
I really think this speaks for it's self. . .
Indiana Paramedic Opens EMS School
- Frank Denzler, The Rushville Republican, Ind.
Jun. 25--On any given night a number of local residents, those from nearby and some from not so near counties may be found in the 100 block of West First Street in downtown Rushville. There is no need for alarm, they are simply taking a break from studies at the Tri-County Medical Academy, one of the county's newest businesses.
Director of the school and Fayette County resident Bill Hufford is no stranger to the emergency medical field, having logged more than 28 years of in-field medical care and more than 20 years as an instructor.
Originally from North Carolina, Hufford became an EMT in 1981 and later a paramedic.
A four year stint in the U.S. Navy, from 1987 through 1991, found Hufford serving during both Desert Storm and Desert Shield where he was tapped to be in division school as a trainer and became a primary instructor teaching military EMT training.
"I have basically been in the medical field and working for ambulance services my entire adult life," Hufford said.
After serving his country, Hufford settled in Ohio for a couple of years prior to relocating to Indiana and becoming the Director of EMS in Logansport. That move was followed to his current residence in Connersville, where he served as a flight medic on an air ambulance and followed that by again returning to the field and working for an ambulance service.
"About three years ago, I simply got tired of working for everyone else and wanted to go into business for myself. That is when I opened my own school, the Tri-County Training Academy," Hufford said.
The operation began in the converted garage of his home, to later holding classes in fire department training rooms and has since expanded to its current home in Rushville.
The medical training school currently has an average enrollment of nearly 150 students gaining instruction at various levels of in-field medical care: EMT-B, EMT-Advance and EMT-paramedic.
"I don't think that a lot of people realize the capabilities of an EMT or that of a paramedic. During a life threatening emergency such as difficulty breathing or a heart attack the paramedic ambulance has the capability to administer the exact same medications as that of an emergency room, the only difference is that they are administered right at the scene and not 20 to 30 minutes later at the hospital. That definitely increases the chance for survival. We more or less bring the emergency room to the patient," he said.
Completing the course is just one step in the process of becoming an EMT or paramedic. Specified ride time with trained medical personnel on an ambulance, hospital emergency room clinical time and successfully passing the State of Indiana exam are also required.
"Once the classroom instruction and the other requirements are met individuals are eligible to sit for the state boards. Just like nursing you are not a nurse when you complete nursing school, you still have to pass the state boards," Hufford said.
The instructor said Tri-County Training Academy has a high pass rate for those taking the state exam.
"We are an Indiana Department of Homeland Security advanced training center and offer the only state-based program that teaches the tactic-medic program. Once that training is complete it allows the EMT or paramedic to go with an area SWAT Team and act as part of that team. It also entitles the individual to be on an entry team at a state prison," the instructor said.
When asked about his concerns regarding opening a business in the current economic climate Hufford said that quality trained medical personnel have been, are and will always be needed.
"No matter how bad the economy is there are always going to be those individuals that are sick or become injured. The fields of EMTs and paramedics are actually evolving and growing. You will now find them working in emergency rooms at hospitals and medical clinics. Their rolls are really expanding," Hufford said.
Indiana Paramedic Opens EMS School
- Frank Denzler, The Rushville Republican, Ind.
Jun. 25--On any given night a number of local residents, those from nearby and some from not so near counties may be found in the 100 block of West First Street in downtown Rushville. There is no need for alarm, they are simply taking a break from studies at the Tri-County Medical Academy, one of the county's newest businesses.
Director of the school and Fayette County resident Bill Hufford is no stranger to the emergency medical field, having logged more than 28 years of in-field medical care and more than 20 years as an instructor.
Originally from North Carolina, Hufford became an EMT in 1981 and later a paramedic.
A four year stint in the U.S. Navy, from 1987 through 1991, found Hufford serving during both Desert Storm and Desert Shield where he was tapped to be in division school as a trainer and became a primary instructor teaching military EMT training.
"I have basically been in the medical field and working for ambulance services my entire adult life," Hufford said.
After serving his country, Hufford settled in Ohio for a couple of years prior to relocating to Indiana and becoming the Director of EMS in Logansport. That move was followed to his current residence in Connersville, where he served as a flight medic on an air ambulance and followed that by again returning to the field and working for an ambulance service.
"About three years ago, I simply got tired of working for everyone else and wanted to go into business for myself. That is when I opened my own school, the Tri-County Training Academy," Hufford said.
The operation began in the converted garage of his home, to later holding classes in fire department training rooms and has since expanded to its current home in Rushville.
The medical training school currently has an average enrollment of nearly 150 students gaining instruction at various levels of in-field medical care: EMT-B, EMT-Advance and EMT-paramedic.
"I don't think that a lot of people realize the capabilities of an EMT or that of a paramedic. During a life threatening emergency such as difficulty breathing or a heart attack the paramedic ambulance has the capability to administer the exact same medications as that of an emergency room, the only difference is that they are administered right at the scene and not 20 to 30 minutes later at the hospital. That definitely increases the chance for survival. We more or less bring the emergency room to the patient," he said.
Completing the course is just one step in the process of becoming an EMT or paramedic. Specified ride time with trained medical personnel on an ambulance, hospital emergency room clinical time and successfully passing the State of Indiana exam are also required.
"Once the classroom instruction and the other requirements are met individuals are eligible to sit for the state boards. Just like nursing you are not a nurse when you complete nursing school, you still have to pass the state boards," Hufford said.
The instructor said Tri-County Training Academy has a high pass rate for those taking the state exam.
"We are an Indiana Department of Homeland Security advanced training center and offer the only state-based program that teaches the tactic-medic program. Once that training is complete it allows the EMT or paramedic to go with an area SWAT Team and act as part of that team. It also entitles the individual to be on an entry team at a state prison," the instructor said.
When asked about his concerns regarding opening a business in the current economic climate Hufford said that quality trained medical personnel have been, are and will always be needed.
"No matter how bad the economy is there are always going to be those individuals that are sick or become injured. The fields of EMTs and paramedics are actually evolving and growing. You will now find them working in emergency rooms at hospitals and medical clinics. Their rolls are really expanding," Hufford said.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on -
So, what's wrong with it?
I'd be interested in seeing his student's certification pass rates compared to those of more traditional EMS educational facilities.
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Permalink Reply by Gul Dukat on -
Actually I am having a hard time to find anything wrong with this. Bill is one of the most entertaining speakers I have ever heard and he is an outstanding Medic.
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Permalink Reply by Jerry on -
In light of the NREMT move to require accreditation, opening a backyard paramedic school. . .but, gee whiz, cool name. I don't know, maybe I'm the confused one here. . .and find my confusion scary too.
"Once the classroom instruction and the other requirements are met individuals are eligible to sit for the state boards. Just like nursing you are not a nurse when you complete nursing school, you still have to pass the state boards." sounds a lot like others in EMS education that say, "Pass 'em all and let the state or the registry sort it out."
Yet we continue to argue about professionalism, raising standards and the bar, then defend this. Every other health care profession is trained at academic institutions. EMS is trained wherever and by whom ever? Entertaining speakers are not by extension excellent instructors. I am one of the ones that will continue to advocate RAISING the profession of EMS by pushing for academic (yeah I do mean college based_ preparation.
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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Gilliam on -
It does speak for itself. An experienced paramedic and teacher used his talents to make a succesful business for himself. If there's something wrong with that, then there's something wrong with the American dream. It's great to see an article that highlights not only a paramedic's success, but a person's success in today's economy. Maybe you need to read the article again, because I doubt anyone else sees anything wrong with this.
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Permalink Reply by Lady O. on -
Jerry, perhaps you might enlighten us, and tell us what you find wrong with it. We can then go from there.
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Permalink Reply by Skip Kirkwood on -
I thought that we were trying to make EMS in to a profession? Where's the institution of higher learning? Where are the students getting their college credits from? Who's teaching the English, A+P, etc.
Yes, it's nice to see a successful entrepenuer. But I thought that we were trying to head somewhere else. This is a vocational training program.
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Permalink Reply by Skip Kirkwood on
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Oh yes....and the big marker of success is "pass rates on a state exam."
It says much about the state of the profession.....
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Permalink Reply by Jeff on -
I will send feedback on Bill's Tactical Medic class, I start it Mon. As far as the other comments regarding 'professionalism', EMS is and will continue to be "the red head bas.... of 1st responders". Has anyone else noticed how EMS is never mentioned during times of tribute. You get fire and police, even during 9/11 EMS was not mentioned. I read an article regarding this last year and it spoke of an officer at a scene of an accident where an 'ambulance driver' was complaining about not being taken seriously and the officer turned to him and said "EMS will be taken seriously when EMS takes themselves seriously." I'm not placing blame on any one entity but it seems to me that if EMS is going to be elevated into the ranks of "1st responders" we, the folks who do this, need to figure out how. Do we need to get out from behind the fire depts - compare fire runs vs medical calls. What about state certs vs license - would this give EMS more clout with folks? Law-enforcement and fire have representation from the state level up to the federal level, EMS rides the shirt tail of fire. To be considered professional are we content on being included in parades or the occasional article or does EMS deserve more? It goes back to the question of are we just 'ambulance drivers' or do we deserve more? I lay fault at our feet as much as anyone else. It is going to take a valent effort on our part to promote EMS to the 'professional' level.
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Permalink Reply by Bill on -
I'm all for "raising the standard". I understand that R.N.'s get educated at colleges and universities and we get educated at trade schools. Being a product of the independent contractor school system for EMS (back then that was mostly all that was available) I don't see much wrong with that.
In Texas if you are going to teach EMS anywhere, Mom & Pop's EMS Training Academy or Texas Tech University, you have to take a class in methods of education and pass a state test much the same as any other EMS level. To be able to have students sit for the state exam(or National Registry) the course has to have a state certified course coodinator and a medical director. That being said what's the big whoop whether you take and pass an EMS class taught in house at your community's Fire or EMS station or a college? If you want a degree of some kind when you are done I'm all for that, too. But, no matter what other course work you complete you still have to take, and pass, an EMT course.
If you live in, around or near a larger metropolotin area the college route may be the best thing. But consider this. In many parts of our state (Texas) the 2 or 4 year colleges aren't real handy. I know for a fact that there are places where people would have to drive for several hours to get to a college or university. Because people choose to live in these areas, just as I do, should we be penalized in the quantity or quality of EMS care (say training) that's available? We live in a rural/frontier county of 3,000 people. There is no hsopital in the county. The EMS service and two clinics are the only games in town. The resources available here are extremely limited. We'd LOVE to have more EMT's. But the hardship of driving an 80 mile round trip after working a normal 8 hour shift two or three times a week for 6 months seems a bit excessive.
The economics of all of this has to come into play as well. The cost of providing an EMS class is quite high. While an accredited college has the advantage of established classrooms and labs they still have to have the equipment and supplies to effectively teach a hands on subject like EMS. The independent contractor/educator substitutes their vehicle and the added time to travel for the convienence of a fixed base of operation. But, the contractor makes it conveniently possible for students who otherwise wouldn't be able to take an EMS class to do so.
Ideally, I'd love to see every person with any level of EMS patch have a degree. When you add up the hours needed to become a paramedic, both the didactic and clinical, then look at the number of hours needed for an A.A.S. degree it doesn't seem quite fair for the paramedic to have anything less that an A.A.S degree no matter what "school" he attends. Let's push for THAT!
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Permalink Reply by Skip Kirkwood on
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Degrees aren't awarded for hours. They are awarded for completion of courses. No matter how many hours a paramedic course has, they don't teach other things that are necessary, like english, math, sociology, etc.
What's so special about EMS? We don't allow back-yard medical schools or back-yard nursing schools or back-yard engineering schools to make it easier to have rural physicians, nurses, or engineers!
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Permalink Reply by Jerry on
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After reading the posts, I believe Skip has summed it all up quite nicely. As for the cost of becoming an EMT, it should be expensive in both time and cost, in part to keep out wankers, and those who "just wanna help, a-yup" Again I stress, PROFESSIONALISM. As far as "back yard medical school, if you know a FMG (Foreign Medical Graduate) in Grenada, ask him/or her about becoming licensed in the US.
Another dimension is that academic preparation elevates the profession; put all of us on more equal standing with other MEDICAL professions. I know how to do [pick you skill], but I don't understand why. THIS is the critical difference between "education" and "training." Do you want your brain surgeon educated or trained? Please don't tell me that EMS is different. It isn't; we want to get in get trained and get out on the street to become Lifesavers (sorry Thom Dick, borrowed your term).
I have guest lectured at many TRAINING programs, and in nearly all of them someone asks, "will this be on the test?" My answer is always, "Yes. It may be on the test you take when our are providing potentially life saving care to a patient, not the next regurgitation test you take in class!"
Ben: Pass rates are not an indication of quality of training. I know several current EMTs and Paramedics that were successful despite their program. That particular "school" finally went away in the face of increasing requirements
Jonathan, thanks for your comments; however I strongly disagree with your viewpoint.
Ben: you answered my "What's wrong with this?" in your comments - EMS will continue to be the red head b*****d, until we are willing to concede that this is a Profession, not a j-o-b (with deference to my FD*NY friends who do not run calls, they run jobs.)
To all: thank you for taking time to post your comments. This is the type of discussion that will eventually change the face of EMS. . .hopefully.
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