By Clare S. Richie
Looking to work in an industry with a lot of opportunity, growth and flexibility? Consider registering for Grady Emergency Medical Services (Grady EMS) Paramedic Program at its new 30,000 square foot education and training facility on 2284 Marietta Boulevard NW.
Grady EMS, the hospital-based emergency care component of the Grady Health System, recently expanded to provide education courses at three levels: Basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced EMT (AEMT), and Paramedic.
At the scene of an emergency, an EMT provides basic life support, an AEMT has extra training to perform some procedures (e.g., start an IV), and a Paramedic serves as a link to the emergency room doctors, by diagnosing and treating the patient in the field.
The program includes classroom lectures, skill development labs, and supervised clinical field experiences. Student Jason Hewell gives the program high marks. “Thus far, I’m personally impressed with the education that has been provided. The equation is simple. Experienced instructors that care about learning, along with beyond adequate clinical/lab resources, equals a high quality program.”
Grady EMS is looking for others to follow in Jason’s footsteps. “We need a constant pipeline of employees for Grady EMS, because we are always growing,” shared Michael Colman, Director of Education and Staff Development.
Grady EMS provides emergency ambulance services to anyone within the City of Atlanta-Fulton County. It’s one of the busiest 911 providers in the southeast, handling approximately 110,000 emergency requests annually, frequently responding to car crashes and difficulty breathing.
Grady EMS also provides service to Downtown sports arenas, high school games, and other large events.
The work is intense but comes with a flexible schedule. “We’re open 24 hours a day 365 days per year, ”explained Jeff Asher, Education Manager and instructor at the new facility. You can schedule your three 12-hour (or four 10-hour shifts) for nights, weekends, off-peak commute times, and around childcare needs.
And to promote professional development, a current Grady EMS AEMT with one year of experience can attend the Paramedic 13-month program for a small fee and agreeing to an 18-month work commitment. This is a $4,000 savings for the employee.
The training is also open to the community. “Training can be used to stay with Grady EMS or to go elsewhere,” per Jeff Asher. AEMT training prepares you for any EMS position and for other jobs, like a firefighter. The newest Paramedic training cohort includes 11 Grady employees and 4 community members.
“There’s a big interest in a super-condensed summer EMT program from nursing, physical therapy, and medical students,” Jeff shared. It’s good preparation for students pursuing their degrees and some choose to work as an EMT while in school.
In response, Grady EMS is offering an EMT licensure class for 10 weeks, instead of the usual 20 weeks. Starting mid-May, Grady EMS is offering an accelerated and a regular EMT class. As of early April, there is still room in both classes. If they fill up quickly, Grady EMS now has the space and flexibility to consider adding more classes.
When considering an EMS career, student Preston Jeanis wants you to know. “It isn’t for everyone. It’s hard work, with an emphasis on handling emergencies and continual critical thinking. However the reward is unlike any other because what we do makes a difference. It’s all about giving back, because we were all in need at one point in our lives.”
Go to www.grady-ems.org for more info on classes, tuition/fees, and application process. Contact Takiesha Bankston, Registrar’s office at (404) 616-7414 or tgbankston@gmh.edu.
