Margaretville hospital EMS training program - margaretville hospital will partner with delaware county, NY department of emergency services and suny cobleskill

Our goal is to provide all levels of EMS training as appropriate to maintain licenses and certifications relevant to serve in an EMS agency; conduct courses that qualify graduates to serve in an EMS agency; and fund specific training to meet new york state licensing/certification requirements. There will be a significant emphasis on behavioral health and substance use disorder training. Margaretville hospital is a rural critical access hospital, located in delaware county, whose mission is to provide immediate access to high quality medical care and services to medically underserved areas in the catskill mountains. The margaretville hospital EMS training program will serve the geographic catchment area of delaware county, NY, which is a hrsa-designated rural county, and parts of greene and ulster counties that are also hrsa-designated rural areas that border delaware county and are serviced by margaretville hospital. The fourth largest county in the state with a population of 44,308, delaware county's unemployment rate exceeds new york state averages, and according to the 2022 NYS community action report, 27.6% of youth under 18 are living in poverty in delaware county. Delaware county is home to 18 transporting agencies dispatched by delaware 911 and six basic life support first response agencies. Of the 18 transporting agencies, only five have paid staff, while the remaining 13 are operated by volunteers. The volunteer agencies have an average of six people certified to provide emergency medical treatment by the state. To provide 24/7 coverage, each volunteer would need to commit 28 hours a week, the equivalent of an unpaid part-time job. Our objectives are to offer certified first responder (CFR), advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT), emergency medical technician (EMT), and certified lab instructor (CLI) trainings. Over a one-year period, the CFR class will train 10 people, the AEMT and EMT classes will train 24 students each for a total of 58 people. In addition, five clis and three paramedics will be sponsored and trained by suny cobleskill for a grand total of 66 unique individuals. If we are able to increase the number of EMS workers in our catchment area, this will reduce the number of volunteer hours necessary for each EMS worker to perform to provide 24/7 service. With the high rates of unemployment and low levels of income in this rural area, the program will provide educational opportunities that individuals might not otherwise be able to afford and will provide some paid career prospects.