Butler County launches EMS Academy
With the first class of the county-funded EMS Academy about to begin, Butler County commissioners approved contracts to operate the program and provide advanced life support personnel to ambulance services.
The commissioners on Wednesday, June 5, agreed to pay Independence Health System up to $600,000 for Butler Memorial Hospital to provide advanced life support staff to work with emergency medical service agencies that prove they need the help.
Commissioner Kevin Boozel said the agreement is the result of a collaboration involving many people.
“This is huge for anyone who needs EMS in the county,” said Robert McLafferty, 911 coordinator.
Under the agreement, EMS agencies must provide three months of preceding schedules so the county can determine actual need.
The $600,000 comes from Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery funds the county received from the federal government. The county will pay the hospital $28.75 per hour for each advanced life support provider. That fee includes a 15% administrative fee, according to the agreement, which runs from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2026.
“It’s a great day,” said Jenna Enscoe, emergency department director at Butler Memorial Hospital, after Wednesday’s meeting.
The agreement has been in the works for almost two years, Enscoe said.
Nurses or paramedics trained and qualified as pre-hospital providers will work with the EMS agencies, she said.
The commissioners also approved agreements for students and EMS agencies to participate in the EMS Academy at Butler County Community College. The first class of 12 students begins the eight-week program June 17. Another session will be held in the fall.
Students will be paid a stipend of $13 per hour while they attend classes 40 hours a week. They will receive basic life support training to become emergency medical technicians, ambulance driver training and personal empowerment training, according to the agreement.
In exchange for the training, the students must work for an EMS agency in the county full time for one year after they graduate.
The agreement for EMS agencies calls for agencies to provide clinical experience, including ride along training, for graduates.
The commissioners approved a $600,000 contract in December with BC3 for the academy. That money also came from Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery funds.
McLafferty said he does not believe other counties have programs like the academy.
The EMS crisis the county is facing is a national issue, he said.
“Can’t wait for the cavalry because they are not coming,” said Leslie Osche, commissioners chairman.
She said the county, BC3, the hospital and EMS agencies worked together to address the crisis.
In a separate emergency services matter, the commissioners approved a three-year contract costing $14,175 a year with Prepared Assist Plus for software that allows videos, pictures and texts to be sent to the 911 center.
The software includes translation services and allows 911 staff to respond to hang-up calls by sending texts to the callers.
Boozel said the service will benefit people with hearing impairments.
