BC3 EMS academy sees strong participation
Butler County Community College is making a strong effort to do its part in providing more EMT’s for emergency services.
According to BC3, its EMS Academy has had 42 students register in the past two years. Twenty-one of those are actively working in emergency services for local agencies throughout Butler County.
“It’s been a very successful program, there’s been a lot of interest in the program,” BC3 president Megan Coval said. “It is meeting an immediate need in our community, which is a shortage of first responders, and it’s a wonderful partnership.”
BC3’s EMS Academy was created out of a desire to combat Pennsylvania’s EMS crisis and paramedic shortage.
Across Pennsylvania, EMS departments have faced crisis, with agencies closing down due to financial strain. A study done by the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania showed the biggest issues facing Pennsylvania emergency services include financial stability, recruitment, retention and potential trainees struggling to find instructors and training classes.
EMS services in Butler County had been stretched thin to the point that Butler Ambulance Service had been approaching local municipalities asking for help. Jesse Haas, a paramedic, previously said Butler Ambulance Service was on pace to respond to 10,000 emergency calls in its coverage area in 2025, which would be an all-time high, despite a shortage in crew.
Funded by a grant from the county, BC3’s EMS Academy aims to train enrollees to become EMT’s and eventually work with an agency in Butler County. Classroom sessions last for eight weeks and participants must commit to one year of service with a Butler County emergency services agency. Eligibility requirements include being at least 18 years old, a county resident and having a high school degree or GED. he program has actively sought participants it’s past two cohorts.
The academy has gained attention of out-of-county ambulance services. Mercer County-based Superior Ambulance Service and Armstrong County-based Freeport Fire-EMS both serve Butler County residents. They have both previously asked county commissioners to be included in the paramedic training program and take on participants.
The benefits of the EMS academy go beyond serving local residents by filling in EMS gaps, according to Coval. At past events and board meetings, Coval has put emphasis on the importance of establishing community relationships and working together to solve problems. Partnering with the county, she said, has created a “strong and successful” connection that’s helped confront workforce needs.
“I think it’s a really great example of how when there is an immediate workforce need in our community, that the college is able to respond to that and respond to it quickly and with a program that is of high quality,” Coval said.
