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Last Updated: Dec 18, 2018 - 3:27:29 PM |
Nassau, Bahamas - When 24-year-old Brittany Pinder first attempted to become an Emergency Medical Technician as part of the government’s 52-week training programme, she failed the exam and thought her dreams of being able to help others in their time of need had been dashed.
This summer, while helping out in her father’s electronics store, Brittany got the call that she was going to get another chance.
“I was happy. I was like ‘Wow! I’m actually going to get a second chance.’ I felt so blessed that they (Doctors Hospital) took a chance with me and gave me this second opportunity to follow my dreams. It made me sit back before I even got started and think about what I needed to do differently and what I needed to focus on to be successful this time,” she said after successfully completing the Doctors Hospital EMT program.
She was one of 19 young Bahamians (from more than 700 applicants) granted a unique opportunity to train to become a qualified, internationally certified EMT in a program paid for entirely by Doctors Hospital. All the students had to do was commit to putting in the time and effort.
At the graduation ceremony held on December 17, 2018, Brittany learned that not only had she successfully passed the course and the national and international certification exam, but she had earned the second highest marks and had been named Salutatorian.
Reshan Williams earned the highest marks and was named Valedictorian for the initial cohort of EMTs participating in the Doctors Hospital EMT Training Program.
Of the 19 students who enrolled, 13 students had strong enough results to be invited to sit the National Registry exam. All 13 of them passed and now have guaranteed jobs with Doctors Hospital. National Registry certification is recognized in over fifty countries worldwide as the premier certification for EMTs
Program Director, Dr James Iferenta, was thrilled with the end results which far exceeded the average results for EMT training programs internationally. He noted that the program was designed to help Doctors Hospital fill the increasing demand for internationally certified EMTs.
“The support of mid-level and ancillary healthcare providers to doctors and nurses are essential to patient satisfaction and improved patient outcomes,” said Dr Iferenta, “to strengthen our healthcare system and improve the outcomes and care of our patients we must fill the current deficit of this level of healthcare providers.” As Doctors Hospital continues to grow and expand, there will be additional need to supplement the present EMT team. It is likely that the program will be offered again as the needs emerge.
Dr Iferenta also noted that the program’s leaders will continue to refine the curriculum and program to ensure that any future groups are equally as successful.
Jason Petty, the youngest student to complete the program at age 18, attributed the success rate to the effort put in by all the instructors.
“It was tough, but then again, the people that you had behind you who wanted you to succeed and pushed you every day really helped out. We weren’t thrown into the ocean to learn to swim by ourselves, we had a great support team.”
The course lasted four months and was a full time, five days a week program including more than 300 hours of lectures and clinical exposure as well as ride time on the ambulances.
The programme was tough, particularly because it was so condensed.
“We knew it was going to be Monday to Friday, but the level of intensity, the workload, that wasn’t expected. We knew it was going to take a lot of work, but we didn’t know it was going to require that much of us,” Brittany said at the end of the programme.
For both Brittany and Jason, the ride time was the best part of the programme.
“It put all of the learning and the quizzes and tests into perspective,” Jason explained, “you got to see what you’re doing and why you’re doing it and we got to actually use the skills we attained during the course.”
Jason said that his first time out in the ambulance was nerve wracking, but his Doctors Hospital colleagues and preceptors helped him realize he had the knowledge to provide the help needed.
Brittany, Jason and Dr Iferenta all acknowledged that the unique program which had practitioners teaching in the classroom and in the field, was beneficial to both the students and the organization.
Jason, who admits he would not likely have had the opportunity to become an internationally certified EMT if he had been required to pay for the programme, said:
“I want to personally thank Doctors Hospital for allowing me this opportunity, seeing my potential and wanting me to succeed. Ultimately, I succeeded because I had that support system (Doctors Hospital) in place throughout. This is amazing because Doctors Hospital rewards you for your hard work and with Doctors Hospital you will reap the benefits of your hard work.”
© Copyright 2018 by thebahamasweekly.com
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