American Medical Emergency Dispatch, a local ambulance service, recently donated a 2015 Chevy Type I Ambulance to Gadsden State Community College’s Emergency Medical Services Program. The donation will enhance emergency vehicle driver training and will support EMS students to train in real-world environments.
“We can now simulate all aspects of patient care in EMS,” said John Hollingsworth, director of Gadsden State’s EMS Program. “We start in the classroom learning the information and move to the lab to practice and simulate skills. We then send our students out into the field to complete real patient care during the clinical phase. The new ambulance allows us to train in motion and train with the actual equipment used in the field. We are so grateful to AMED for this generous donation.”
Dr. Joey Battles, dean of Health Sciences at Gadsden State, said the donation from AMED is a significant stride in enhancing the EMS Program.
“We are focused on providing excellent healthcare training,” he said. “This donation contributes to the training of students to ensure they excel in this vital field.”
Gadsden State’s EMS Program trains three levels of pre-hospital providers to stabilize and transport patients in need of care at area hospitals: emergency medical technicians, advanced EMTs and paramedics. Training can be completed in as little as one semester, and Gadsden State has 100 percent job placement for its students.
“If you want a job in EMS, you can have one easily after just one semester in our program to become an EMT,” Hollingsworth said. “If students wish to advance their training, the Advanced EMT and Paramedic programs offer a larger scope of practice and higher salaries.”
Battles said Gadsden State has one of the strongest EMS programs in the state, largely due to the faculty and staff.
“Their dedication to excellence, coupled with their expertise and commitment to student success sets our program apart,” he said. “They are outstanding educators and mentors who are shaping the future leaders of EMS.”