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Lee EMS Graduations First Paramedic Class
May 23, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: May 23, 2008 CONTACT: Diane Holm, Public Information Officer Class Photo Coming Tues. 5/27/08 LEE EMS GRADUATES FIRST PARAMEDIC CLASS FORT MYERS-The largest class of Lee County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) employees to simultaneously matriculate to Paramedic school graduated earlier this month. Edison College shows 15 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) completed the rigorous coursework together while juggling their jobs, families and personal life as a result of a new grant program, while only a few graduated together previously. "We had a great retention rate," said EMS Operations Chief Kim Dickerson. "We'll see a big boost to our paramedic staffing later this summer." The Paramedic students are out of school, but must still undergo months of scrutiny and guidance by a Field Training Officer (FTO). When the FTO believes they are ready, Dickerson said, they must pass an oral exam by the Medical Director. "Paramedics for Lee County EMS are much busier than they are in many parts of the country," said Lee EMS Captain Eileen Briscoe. "The pace makes the FTO training imperative for them to learn the critical thinking required to meet our progressive medical guidelines." Prior to this class, the retention rate of newly hired paramedics was lower than desired because of the many differences in the way Lee County EMS operates and other ambulance services operate. The class was a pilot project, paid for by an EMS County Awards Grant, to determine if training already employed EMTs to become paramedics would save taxpayer dollars and increase the retention rate. "So far the program appears to be exactly what we were hoping it would be," said Dickerson. "We'll know before the end of the year if it's a total success." Students who completed the Edison degree program include: Brian Garcia, Brandon Robinson, James Nunez, Matthew Monk, James O'Leary, Robin Schram, Jonathan Henderson, Keith Parsons, John Rochelle, Fred Jackson, Jeff Rountree, Steve Lupe, Chris Arnold, Kim Diogo and Gary Russell.
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