CHARLESTON, W.Va. — It appears the “Answer the Call” initiative had a good first year.
Gov. Jim Justice announced on Wednesday during a briefing that there has been great progress in adding Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals through the initiative. Over the past 12 months, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Public Health’s Office of Emergency Medical Services reported a significant increase in EMS workers.
Since August 2022, the state has gained 40 Emergency Medical Responders, 465 Emergency Medical Technicians, 91 Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians, and 57 Paramedics. In total, more than 600 EMS professionals were added.
“This program’s growth has been remarkable, and it is important the people of West Virginia understand its significance,” Gov. Justice said. “Our amazing EMS workers are heroes who always run to the fire, but they do not grow on trees. They are few and far between, and this program continues to provide the resources and training to help develop more of them in our communities.”
Additionally, testing for the National Registry Emergency Medical Technician statewide has improved by as much as 21% for EMS instructors.
“We had a shortfall of EMS folks, we addressed that, and on top of that, we got them better trained,” Gov. Justice said.
In December 2021, the governor announced that $10 million would be allocated from the remaining CARES Act dollars in order to grow the EMS workforce.
Dr. Cynthia Persily was called on by Justice to lead the EMS workforce expansion initiative. She previously served as Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences at the state higher education office. In her work, mobile ambulance simulators were dispersed across the state and were used by community and technical colleges and training facilities to offer EMS training.
“I am grateful to Gov. Justice for his vision for this program and for those across the state working to make it a success including Jody Ratliff who leads DHHR’s Office of Emergency Medical Services,” Dr. Persily said. “Improving workforce recruitment and retaining employees through education and investment are critical to strengthening the EMS workforce and, ultimately, to supporting a thriving and healthy West Virginia.”
Persily is the incoming Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Human Services.