According to the South Carolina EMS Association, the state’s EMS agencies are facing a workforce crisis. As EMS professionals leave the field due to burnout, pursuit of other career opportunities, and retirement, there aren’t enough new EMS personnel to take their places.
In Greenville County, there are only 3.63 providers per 10,000 residents. In similarly populated counties, the ratios are better. Richland County, for example, has 4.58 providers and Charleston County has 4.60 providers per 10,000 residents.
A partnership between Greenville County and Greenville Technical College is aimed at addressing the shortage and ensuring that emergency medical services are readily available in this area.
“Our goal at Greenville Technical College is to meet workforce needs so that employers can thrive, students can find solid career paths, and the people in our area can enjoy quality of life. Our growing partnership with Greenville County promises to produce cost savings by eliminating duplication of efforts. We’re excited to collaborate in order to expand the pipeline of qualified EMS professionals,” said Dr. Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College.
Phase one of the partnership began in 2023 when Greenville County leased the college’s former admissions space at McAlister Square, providing the county with a central location for EMS operations. Trucks, employees, supplies, and emergency management services are now housed and staged from the location following extensive renovations.
In phase two, the college and the county are creating a training model that will address the shortage of EMS workers by creating a pipeline of well-trained professionals. Where the county and the college both offered EMS training in the past, the model combines resources with the county offering high quality, nationally recognized EMS education.
Students will be eligible for SC grants and scholarships that should reduce cost barriers to their career path. Based upon workforce needs and academic performance, graduates may be eligible for employment consideration by Greenville County EMS.
Written by Greenville Technical College.