The second-most called upon emergency medical services provider in Lancaster County has as new idea for filling its EMT deficit: a paid, apprenticeshiplike program.
Susquehanna Valley EMS announced Monday that it is accepting applications for its first “EMT Recruit Academy,” which will give potential EMTs a job if they successfully complete the six-week training program.
“It's a new concept … this is taking somebody off the street and paying them to get trained for the career,” said Michael Fitzgibbons, CEO of the agency, which was dispatched to more than 12,000 calls in Lancaster County in 2017. Students will be paid to attend eight-hour classroom and clinical shifts five days a week for six weeks. From there, they will be eligible to become certified as an EMT. Once certified, they'll be offered a job with Susquehanna Valley EMS and required to commit to one year of work.