Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
YUCAIPA, CA—- Hands-on career training for paramedics at Crafton Hills College (CHC) has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic according to Amanda Ward, director of the paramedic training program at CHC.
“We graduated 62 students from March of 2020 to now, which is a typical number of graduates from before the pandemic hit,” Ward said. “Of those students, only two are not working locally.”
CHC has earned high marks for the way the college connects newly trained graduates to relevant jobs. The program is a “Strong Workforce Star” according to California’s Community Colleges system.
The Inland region is fortunate that hands-on training continued at CHC because the pandemic made the need for skilled clinicians much greater.
Ward said it is the pandemic itself, as well as high 911 call volume, that has increased the need for paramedics and not a shortage of high-quality training programs.
“We are hearing that local ambulance companies and fire departments are looking to hire additional paramedics,” Ward said. “Crafton has heard the need and is answering.”
CHC, which is part of the San Bernardino Community College District, operates two cohorts of paramedic students annually now and will begin a third cohort in the Summer of 2022.
“This is a direct response to the paramedic shortage and our community partners’ vacancies,” Ward said.
She said new applicants are always welcome and financial aid is available for community college students. More information about the paramedic program is available online at www.craftonhills.edu/paramedic.
