POUGHKEEPSIE – The North Academy at Empress Emergency Medical Services recently held a ceremony for 10 students who graduated after taking a 10-week training this spring to become certified Emergency Medical Technicians.
The new graduates are Alison Benkwitt, Kaylah Gardineer, Olga Grinberg, Ashley Hoag, Joseph Lopez, Declan Manning, William Parkinson, Riess Ogden, Seyid Sagdic and Desiree Torres.
Empress’s EMS Academy is intense and immersive, held five days a week for 10 weeks, with students developing essential skills to handle emergency situations, operate emergency vehicles and more. Students are paid during the instruction and receive complimentary uniforms and online access to the textbook as well as free CPR training.
“It’s rewarding to watch a student come in the first day and not understand what an assessment is, and then on the last day of graduation, they have completely mastered it,” said North Academy instructor Sandra Wilson, who served as an EMT for many years herself before becoming an instructor, a role she has held for a little more than a decade. “It’s a great organization to work for. There’s a lot of growth potential. You don’t have to be an EMT on the road, there’s other divisions you can work your way into, and you can learn a lot. There’s a lot of growth within this organization, and you can go far.”
The Academy coursework is designed to prepare students for the New York State exam to become certified as Emergency Medical Technicians. Instruction includes in-class discussions, simulations of emergency situations and practice exercises to develop skills at operating emergency vehicles. In the Hudson Valley, the course is held at Empress’s North station at 10 S. White Street in Poughkeepsie, with some training exercises held off-site. Students are also required to go on ride-alongs with EMTs in the field so they can experience the work in actual situations.
Following their certification and graduation, Academy students must work for Empress as full-time EMTs for a year. Those who do not complete this obligation are required to reimburse Empress for the cost of their tuition.
About the Academy
Founded in 2019, the Empress EMS Academy is an ideal starting point for a career in emergency medical services. Apart from EMT work, Empress also provides opportunities to specialize in logistics, community paramedics, quality improvement, special operations and emergency communications. Many who start out as EMTs also use it as a foundation for careers in various other medical professions. The Academy operates two EMS training sites in Poughkeepsie and Yonkers.
The next Academy will start on Monday, April 21. Those interested in applying or with questions can reach out through Empress’s website at www.empressems.com/contact-us
About Empress EMS
Since its inception in 1985, Empress has made a firm commitment to emergency medical services and quality after-care transportation with a focus on providing state-of-the-art patient care in a personal and compassionate manner. Its unparalleled reputation in Westchester and the Hudson Valley demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach. Empress provides 911 emergency medical services to the City of Yonkers as well as mutual-aid response to neighboring communities. It also has emergency and non-emergency service contracts throughout Westchester County and the Hudson Valley with many municipalities, hospitals, correctional institutions, and private care. For more information about Empress, visit empressems.com.
About PatientCare EMS Solutions
PatientCare EMS Solutions is a leading provider of ground-based 911 emergency ambulance services and other critical healthcare logistics solutions. With corporate offices in Tyler, TX, and Atlanta, GA, the company operates growing partnerships with representative customers in Florida, Texas, South Dakota, and New York. PatientCare is responsible for transporting more than 400,000 patients annually and is committed to providing compassionate quality care and service built around the needs of the patients and communities in which it serves. For more information about PatientCare, visit the website at patientcareems.com.
