The department will be offering an IDPH-certified EMR Education Course from 6:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, July 15 – September 16, plus three Saturday sessions on August 1, August 29 and September 12 from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Classes will be held at the Prophetstown Fire Station at 104 W. 2nd Street. Applications are due by Wednesday, July 1 at 5 p.m. to Lisa Kirane, (Lisa.R.Kirane@osfhealthcare.org) with an in-system course fee of $400 and an out-of-system course fee of $450. Illinois EMR licensure is not included in the course fee.
Ambulance Administrator Julie Pope says the department is always in need of trained EMRs, and she hopes the convenient location and relatively low fees will inspire those ages 17+ in Prophetstown or the surrounding communities to take steps to join the department. A combination of factors has led to a decline in the ranks of local First Responders, whether on a paid or volunteer basis.
Prophetstown Ambulance is staffed 24/7 at the ESDA building, which hosts living quarters and the department’s primary ambulance. Responders can remain on-call while at home with a pay rate of $5 per hour while doing so. Volunteers also receive stipends for their time on the clock.
Despite most ambulance departments being short-staffed, they’re always ready to provide essential services to those in need. Prophetstown Ambulance dispatches a paramedic, EMT, and EMR on every call.
The biggest struggle is finding people to fill all the shifts, especially when many have other full-time jobs. “When someone calls 911, they expect someone to be there quickly,” said Pope. If volunteers could cover a 4-hour shift, it will give others a break and allow more flexibility in scheduling.
The courses are designed to give students the knowledge and skills to provide immediate lifesaving interventions. “It’s a good intro to emergency medical services. Many of the graduates go on to get licensed,” said Pope, who can be contacted at 815-632-7806 or ptownems@hotmail.com for more information.
The EMR application and course schedule can be found below.
