EMS dispatch program offered
Flint Hills Technical College
Friday, May 8, 2009
A new program at Flint Hills Technical College is now available for students interested in a fast-paced medical environment utilizing critical communication skills. The EMS Dispatch Technology program will be offered for the first time this fall and classes will begin Aug. 10.
Students in the EMS Dispatch Technology program will receive training which will provide them with the necessary telecommunications skills and medical knowledge to be effective in serving the public’s emergency medical needs as part of the local EMS system.
Larry Bess, the instructor for the EMS Dispatch Technology program, has extensive experience in the EMS field. Bess is currently fire captain, a paramedic, EMT-B Instructor/Coordinator and Emergency Medical Dispatch Instructor.
“Dispatchers are the first responders; they are in charge of the initial assessment of the patient without even seeing the patient, just by talking with the caller, the dispatcher determines how many patients are there, assesses the situation and relays information to the proper discipline,” said Bess. “They have a huge responsibility and protocol gives them the direction of what they need to do”.
Bess said the program is an asset to the community. “I see the need for trained qualified dispatchers that can excel and be the best in their field. The dispatcher program fills a gap in this area,” he said.
Students complete 18 credit hours to earn a technical certificate in only one semester. Courses include:
F First Responder
F Healthcare Provider CPR
F Emergency Medical Dispatch
F Emergency Spanish
F Fire Services Clinical
F City Law Enforcement Clinical
F County Law Enforcement
Clinical
F Medical Terminology
F Interpersonal Communication
F Professional Development
The admission requirements for the program include a high school diploma or equivalent, assessment scores of 37 in each of the categories, two positive work-related references and successfully completing a background check. Students must pass all classes with a grade of “C” or better to successfully complete the technical certificate in EMS Dispatch Technology.
Career opportunities include working in the county sheriff office, city police departments, fire services or ambulance services. For more information contact Barbara Evans, EMS Program Director, at 800-711-6947, ext. 1337 or 341-1337.