By Bill Carey
EMS1
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A technical college in Tennessee believes its new school will help solve the staffing problem for one county EMS system.
The Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) in Nashville plans to break ground in Rutherford County and build a $22 million facility that will house a new EMT program, WKRN reported.
“Our goal is to stand that program up, work with local partners, and help provide a supply of skilled technicians for that,” TCAT President Nathan Garrett said.
TCAT Murfreesboro is also launching a new EMT program this fall.
Rutherford County EMS Director Brian Gaither said a lot has changed over the years. “When I first started, we were doing about 500 calls a month, and now we’re doing about 3,600 calls a month,” he said. More calls require more staffing and Gaither said he is struggling to hire.
An American Ambulance Association 2022 survey showed that the turnover for full-time EMTs was 36%, and full-time paramedics were 27%.
Garrett believes TCAT’s investment will address the need for EMTs and paramedics.