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EMTs Graduate in State’s First Regionalized Training Program
Camden County Regional Emergency Training Center’s Summer SessionOn July 27, 33 Emergency Medical Technician graduating recruits successfully completed the summer accelerated program held at the Camden County Regional Emergency Training Center. The landmark ceremony also marked the first regionalized EMT training program in the state. Staff from the Training Center along with the Underwood Memorial Hospital EMS Academy and Cooper University Medical Center collaborated to instruct the students throughout the 135 hour, 4 ½ week program established by the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services.
Keynote speaker State Senator Fred H. Madden Jr., along with Camden County Freeholders Edward T. McDonnell and Rodney A. Greco, as well as family and friends were on hand to welcome the graduates into their Emergency Medical Services careers.
“This regional approach reflects the Freeholder Board’s commitment to cost cutting and fiscal responsibility,” said Freeholder Rodney Greco, liaison to the Camden County Department of Public Safety. “By combining the training, EMTs can be trained sooner and in a more cost effective manner, thereby saving taxpayer dollars.”
Recruits ranging from 16-50 years of age completed their training in just over 4 weeks as opposed to traditional EMT training which takes just over 3 months of twice a week evening classes. This program was an accelerated program -- students attended 4 days a week for 7 hours a day, juggling full-time jobs, college classes, and family issues. The only special award presented during the ceremony was the Educational Excellence award to the student with the highest overall average. The winner this semester was Grace Quinones of Wenonah, Gloucester County.
Through the combined efforts, the program creates a working environment in EMS that helps all Emergency Medical Technicians perform consistently across the region. “We believe that an EMT in Camden, Gloucester, or Bergen County should perform at the same high level,” said Bill Medlar one of the lead instructors of the program. “By combining staff we raise the bar on EMS education and demand higher standards from our students. Those requirements immediately affect the health and safety of our communities.
“This successful training collaboration between Camden and Gloucester counties should be promoted as a best practice model statewide” said Robin J. Blaker, Director of the Regional Training Center. “During these difficult economic and budgetary times, consolidated efforts such as this will enable local governments to continue to provide the best possible services to our citizens. As a result of the dedication and efforts of a combined-county training staff and a group of committed students, our region now has 33 additional highly-trained Emergency Medical Technicians to ensure our citizens receive the highest quality of emergency medical services. We are looking forward to continuing this and other consolidated training models in the future.”
Graduating as new EMTs were: Janet Lauren Armbruster -Woodbury Heights, Matthew T. Astor-Lindenwold, Nancy A. Broglin-Woodbury Heights, Stephen J. Brown Jr.-Glassboro, Kathleen R. Camac-Woodbury, Keith R. Cornish-Woodbury Heights, Michael A. Craft-Deptford, Brian Dimter-Williamstown, John J. Duvall-Pine Hill, Christopher M. Esgro-Glassboro, James Ferretti-Gibbsboro, Ryan P. Fisher-Bellmawr, Brittany Gallagher-Barrington, Andrew N. Giebel-Maple Shade, Brian Gillespie-Turnersville, Avraham Gittler-Cherry Hill, Ephraim Y. Gittler-Cherry Hill, Carl T. Hale-Gloucester City, Rhonda A. Magner,-Williamstown, Lahdi Paula Moutchia-Philadelphia, Joseph E. Murr-Hopewell-Stow Creek, Ryan Nahas-West Deptford, Todd Michael O'Rourke-Cecil, Daniel M. Puskar-Woodbury, Alyssa M. Quinones-Wenonah, Grace A. Quinones-Wenonah, Glen A. Roberts-Pennsauken, Frank Sandrock Jr.-Bellmawr, Antoni Simmons-Glassboro, Kenneth R. Smith-Lindenwold, Eric Veloso-Egg Harbor Twp., Justin Guy Walters-Cherry Hill, William A. Zammarrelli III-Mullica Hill.
Anyone interested in attending a future EMT program can contact the Camden County Regional Emergency Training Center at (856) 374-6167.
Recruits ranging from 16-50 years of age completed their training in just over 4 weeks as opposed to traditional EMT training which takes just over 3 months of twice a week evening classes. This program was an accelerated program -- students attended 4 days a week for 7 hours a day, juggling full-time jobs, college classes, and family issues. The only special award presented during the ceremony was the Educational Excellence award to the student with the highest overall average. The winner this semester was Grace Quinones of Wenonah, Gloucester County.
Through the combined efforts, the program creates a working environment in EMS that helps all Emergency Medical Technicians perform consistently across the region. “We believe that an EMT in Camden, Gloucester, or Bergen County should perform at the same high level,” said Bill Medlar one of the lead instructors of the program. “By combining staff we raise the bar on EMS education and demand higher standards from our students. Those requirements immediately affect the health and safety of our communities.
“This successful training collaboration between Camden and Gloucester counties should be promoted as a best practice model statewide” said Robin J. Blaker, Director of the Regional Training Center. “During these difficult economic and budgetary times, consolidated efforts such as this will enable local governments to continue to provide the best possible services to our citizens. As a result of the dedication and efforts of a combined-county training staff and a group of committed students, our region now has 33 additional highly-trained Emergency Medical Technicians to ensure our citizens receive the highest quality of emergency medical services. We are looking forward to continuing this and other consolidated training models in the future.”
Graduating as new EMTs were: Janet Lauren Armbruster -Woodbury Heights, Matthew T. Astor-Lindenwold, Nancy A. Broglin-Woodbury Heights, Stephen J. Brown Jr.-Glassboro, Kathleen R. Camac-Woodbury, Keith R. Cornish-Woodbury Heights, Michael A. Craft-Deptford, Brian Dimter-Williamstown, John J. Duvall-Pine Hill, Christopher M. Esgro-Glassboro, James Ferretti-Gibbsboro, Ryan P. Fisher-Bellmawr, Brittany Gallagher-Barrington, Andrew N. Giebel-Maple Shade, Brian Gillespie-Turnersville, Avraham Gittler-Cherry Hill, Ephraim Y. Gittler-Cherry Hill, Carl T. Hale-Gloucester City, Rhonda A. Magner,-Williamstown, Lahdi Paula Moutchia-Philadelphia, Joseph E. Murr-Hopewell-Stow Creek, Ryan Nahas-West Deptford, Todd Michael O'Rourke-Cecil, Daniel M. Puskar-Woodbury, Alyssa M. Quinones-Wenonah, Grace A. Quinones-Wenonah, Glen A. Roberts-Pennsauken, Frank Sandrock Jr.-Bellmawr, Antoni Simmons-Glassboro, Kenneth R. Smith-Lindenwold, Eric Veloso-Egg Harbor Twp., Justin Guy Walters-Cherry Hill, William A. Zammarrelli III-Mullica Hill.
Anyone interested in attending a future EMT program can contact the Camden County Regional Emergency Training Center at (856) 374-6167.