With a dual purpose in mind, Camden schools are adding to their curriculum a program to train students to become emergency medical technicians, or EMTs.
Virtua Health is teaming up with Camden City schools to provide the program for students to learn the necessary skills and open a new potential job path. And local officials are also hoping the program attracts more young people to careers in the medical fields, as a shortage of EMTs and other medical professionals continues to be a concern both locally and nationally.
“The educational team that we’ve put together here is really top-notch in this area,” said Jim Newman, vice president of patient logistics at Virtua Health. “The students are offered this education in a very comfortable and safe environment. Coming out of this program, it provides an opportunity for a career in healthcare at Virtua, everything from staying as an EMT to becoming a paramedic to being a physician or anything else across the health system.”
Once students complete the program and pass the national certification test, officials they will be eligible to work anywhere as an EMT.
