Southern illinois EMR & EMR to EMT workforce pipeline - illinois EMS region V serves the 20 southernmost counties in illinois

The illinois department of public health classifies all 20 of these counties as rural. Illinois has seen a drastic decrease in the number of licensed EMTS and paramedics in the state. From 2019 to 2021, licenses fell from 36,000 to just 8,200, a staggering 77% reduction. This decline has acutely impacted the four main EMS systems within the region, especially the southern illinois regional EMS system, which ideally operates with 7-9 active ambulance rigs, but currently operates with only 3 due to staffing shortages. In response, the southern illinois regional EMS system has innovatively offered EMT classes in non-traditional settings outside the college campus, significantly reducing costs while still meeting all state licensing requirements. This approach has been somewhat successful, however, barriers to entry remain prevalent. The two primary challenges identified in EMS region 5 are time constraints and financial barriers. To address these challenges, additional strategies must be considered such as flexible training schedules, financial assistance programs, and community outreach and awareness. With these challenges and solutions in mind, this program proposes an EMR course to be held in the first year for 25 students to train and license them as emergency medical responders (EMRS). This EMR training will be a hybrid model, with online homework modules, 16 hours of in-person training and education more than the state required 52 hours (64 total), including 4 in person 4-hour sessions for cognitive and motor skills testing. A majority of these additional 12 hours will be devoted to learning about mental health and substance use disorders. The licensure test for this program has been approved by the illinois department of public health. To address the entry barriers identified by the illinois EMS region 5 advisory committee, the EMR training and licensure process will be completely free of charge with both financial stipends and mileage reimbursement offered to the participants. In year two of this program (pending approval from the illinois department of public health for approval of the course model) an EMR to EMT course will be held for 35 students to train and license them as emergency medical technicians (EMTS). This EMT training will be a hybrid model as well, similar to the composition of the EMR course, and will count an EMR license as credit towards the EMT training for information already covered. This course will be the first of its kind in the region and will serve as a case study for the stability of the platform. The benefit of this course for the region will be three-fold. First, the EMR license credit that is a part of this course will draw the interest of those who obtained their EMR license in year 1. Second, the addition of ten spots to the EMR to EMT training will draw in those who have been operating under an EMR license in the EMS system for years prior and expose them to the additional mental health and substance misuse training in the EMR to EMT training and licensure course. Third, the licensure of an additional 30 EMTS will help alleviate the severe staffing challenges that are currently being experienced in IL EMS region 5. Similar to the EMR training and licensure held in year 1, to address the entry barriers identified by the illinois EMS region 5 advisory committee the EMR training and licensure process will be completely free of charge, with both financial stipends and mileage reimbursement offered to the participants.