Washington County is facing a critical shortage of emergency medical service (EMS) personnel and nurses, causing ambulance services to run understaffed and hospitals to rely on high cost traveling nurses. To remedy that mounting problem, Washington County Community College (WCCC) has launched two programs that will allow EMS workers and registered nurses to complete all of their credentials locally.
      "WCCC is committed to meeting the workforce needs of our region across all industries," says Nichole Sawyer, dean of workforce and professional development. "Because of the large geographic area in which we live and work, training first responders is a huge priority."
      Previously, WCCC offered its short term EMS courses through agreements with Northern Maine Community College, Kennebec Valley Community College, Eastern Maine Community College and Atlantic Partners EMS, Sawyer explains. "Having been approved as our own Level 1 EMS training center, we can now deliver courses with flexibility on delivery times and build an EMS program that aligns with the needs of our region specifically."
      It's good news for area service providers, who widely welcomed the launch of the new program. "I believe this is a win win for both the college and the area," says Calais Fire EMS Chief Bill Lee. "It has become more difficult finding folks for these positions."
      "The EMS classes at WCCC will enable departments to train more people as EMTs because the training will be in Washington County," agrees Wayne Seeley of the Dennys River Ambulance Service.
      "We cover geographically an area the size of Rhode Island and Washington County is comparable to the size of Delaware," adds Casey Bearor of Downeast EMS. Noting that there are 5,600 EMS licenses and 800 licensed paramedics in the state -- and most are in southern Maine and one third are 55 or older -- Bearor says that Downeast EMS is currently able to fill only 30 of its 50 available positions. "There is a high need for licensed pre hospital providers."
      "Having people who are interested in entering the field who live in and have ties to the local communities will go a long way toward helping not only our service, but all services in the county," summarizes Bradley Morris, EMS coordinator of Passamaquoddy Fire and Rescue.
      The first course being offered by WCCC's new EMS training center will be held in the Columbia area due to its currently critical need, Sawyer says. The program will begin in mid April and will see its 16 graduates hired by local organizations who have agreed in advance to take them on. A waitlist is already in place for the popular program, which is being offered at no cost to eligible participants through the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan.

Nursing program now offered in house
      The launch of WCCC's in house nursing program is being met with equal enthusiasm from all parties involved. For many years, WCCC has offered a registered nurse program through collaborations with several other institutions. "We are grateful for these collaborative efforts but recognized the need to create a sustainable local program here at WCCC," says Darin McGaw, dean of academic affairs.
      In an effort to close the workforce gap around the state, the Maine Community College System secured industry partnership funding through Northern Light Health and Maine Medical Center. Simultaneously, state appropriations were made to expand nursing training centers, giving WCCC enough funding to launch its own program. "This funding provided WCCC the necessary funding to begin to realize our longtime dream of offering nursing education here in Washington County," says Susan Mingo, president of WCCC.
      "With a significant investment from both the state and private sectors, the recently approved nursing program at WCCC marks a significant milestone in addressing the nursing shortage in the Downeast area," concurs Tyler Stoldt, dean of enrollment management and student services.
      Among the funding the college recently received is $1.63 million in federal funds as part of a $15 million package secured by Senators Susan Collins and Angus King. The funding will allow the college to purchase high tech equipment such as virtual reality technology for labs and classrooms.
      The new Associate in Science in Nursing program will be a two year degree with a half semester of prerequisite classes offered under the Health Occupations Certificate (HOC) program. The HOC program currently has 18 participants enrolled and 24 signed up for the summer and fall sessions, indicating a healthy amount of interest. The nursing program, which is accepting applications now for classes starting in September, will graduate 16 nurses into the community on a yearly basis.
      If everything goes as planned, it will go a long way toward offsetting the need for nurses, according to McGaw, who cites an average annual need for 12 new or replacement registered nurses in the county. "Medical facilities that cannot find the nursing staff they need are forced to hire traveling staff that are much more expensive to employ and are only here on short term temporary contracts," he adds. "WCCC is working to fill a need that is prevalent here in Washington County but also around the state of Maine."
      During the course of the nursing program, participants will complete internships at Calais Community Hospital (CCH), Down East Community Hospital (DECH), Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, Northern Light Acadia Hospital, Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital, MDI Hospital and Penobscot Valley Hospital. Once they've graduated, they'll be eligible for hire at any of them, along with any other facility seeking registered nurses.
      "We have been working closely with WCCC since the beginning of the program and have a great relationship," says Steve Lail, president and CEO of CCH and DECH. "We will do all we can to help make this course sustainable for the long-term, as we believe it will help solve nurse staffing in Washington County. We will be happy to hire as many first graduates that want to work at our hospitals. This program is good for all healthcare facilities in Washington County."