New River Community and Technical College is accepting applications for a new community paramedicine course at the Greenbrier Valley Campus starting in January 2017.
“Community paramedicine is an emerging healthcare profession, and this course will be the first of its kind in the state offered to the public,” said Coordinator of EMS/Paramedic Program Paula Johnson. “Community paramedicine allows paramedics to pair patients with resources to help manage their needs in an efficient and proactive way.”
Community paramedicine training provides paramedics with the knowledge, skills and training to meet the unmet healthcare needs of patients who may not be aware of the services available to them.
“This training gives EMS providers a new skill set that mirrors physician extender roles,” explained Instructional Specialist Travis Copenhaver. “Both physicians and patients benefit because they have an extra set of eyes, hands and ears on patient during times when medication compliance and other services are necessary or may have taken longer to get into the home with past services.”
The 26-week course will be offered on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Jan. 20. Tuition for the course is $2,000, and students must be certified paramedics to enroll.
For additional information, contact Copenhaver at tcopenhaver@newriver.edu or 304-793-3004.
New River Community and Technical College serves nine counties in southeastern West Virginia from the Greenbrier Valley Campus (Lewisburg), Mercer County Campus (Princeton), Nicholas County Campus (Summersville) and Raleigh County Campus (Beaver/Beckley).
