The Greenup County Ambulance Authority is now a Kentucky Board of EMS Certified Training and Educational Institution. The authority, directed by Kevin Callihan, is offering 16-week courses that will train and prepare people for a career in emergency medical services.
Before the certification, anyone who wanted this kind of work would have to train with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System or private companies in the area.
Now, Callihan said their certification as a training and educational institution will benefit the Ambulance Authority and the community in a variety of ways.
“This is a very valuable tool for our ambulance service. It allows us the opportunity to provide not only continuing education to our crews, where they can get credit for their recertification and licensure, it also allows us another revenue source,” said Callihan.
The Ambulance Authority Director added that the revenue made from the courses will be put directly into the program to grow the department and their training budget.
If the Greenup County Ambulance Authority doesn’t have a position open when students complete the course, Callihan said he will help them find a position elsewhere.
“We are completely staffed at 100 percent with all of our full-time staff. We do always look for new talent; we’re always looking to grow, and anytime we do a class like this there’s always going to be students that come out of that,” said Callihan.
Callihan said the Ambulance Authority’s goal is to support the industry as a whole.
To be eligible to take the 16-week course offered by the ambulance authority, people must have a Kentucky driver’s license, a high school diploma or GED equivalent, and a clean criminal background check.