By Spencer Durham
Kokomo Tribune
KOKOMO, Ind. 鈥� More paramedics in the field sooner.
That鈥檚 the goal of Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo鈥檚 revamped paramedic program which aims to graduate students faster.
Ivy Tech鈥檚 Paramedic Science Program has historically required five semesters or 21 months to complete.
The condensed version will take only four semesters. The change is partly driven by student feedback.
鈥淚鈥檝e heard a lot of students, they鈥檙e not the traditional student,鈥� said Paul Reeder, one of the program instructors.
Put a different way, these working adults 鈥� most paramedic students work for fire departments 鈥� aren鈥檛 interested in sitting in class all the time.
To better fit the lifestyle of the students and speed up how quickly they complete the program, Ivy Tech is using a combination of online, asynchronous and hybrid classes. Morning classes are different than afternoon ones.
By mixing the classes, multiple courses can be knocked out per semester.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to meet the demands of students,鈥� said Tammy Greene, dean of Ivy Tech鈥檚 School of Health Sciences. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 want to listen to someone talk to them for three hours.鈥�
A condensed program isn鈥檛 just because of student preference, though.
Paramedics are needed. Many are retiring, and they aren鈥檛 being replaced fast enough.
When Ivy Tech officials spoke to the Tribune this spring, there were more than 200 paramedic jobs listed on Indeed. There were 300 EMS jobs listed, too.
A paramedic is different from an EMT.
A paramedic has more education and training and can do more advanced procedures for a patient such as give medication or IV and conduct an electrocardiogram.
An EMT, or emergency medical technician, is trained to respond to 911 situations and can administer oxygen, CPR and provide Narcan for overdoses.
Ivy Tech students become EMTs after the first semester.
Not enough emergency responders means one might be left waiting longer in a time of need.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just going to see response times increase if we don鈥檛 get people out in the field,鈥� Greene said.
鈥淲e teach our students time is tissue,鈥� added Mark Fair, paramedic program chair.
The paramedic shortage is also due to the stress of the job and pay.
Wages for paramedics have increased by $10,000 over the last three years, according to Greene. The average salary is up to $54,000.
Ivy Tech boasts a 100% job placement for paramedic students. Many are hired by Ascension St. Vincent.
鈥淵ou can go anywhere in the country and get a job,鈥� Greene said.
Reeder was part of a national task force of first responders who helped following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
鈥淲e need to spread the word of the importance of first responders,鈥� Reeder said. 鈥淧eople have forgotten already.鈥�
漏 2025 the Kokomo Tribune (Kokomo, Ind.).
Visit .
Distributed by