The Arkansas Rural Health Partnership has secured a $500,000 Delta Regional Authority States’ Economic Development Assistance Program grant to expand its emergency medical service (EMS) workforce pipeline through the purchase of a mobile, simulation-based emergency medicine training unit and two advanced pediatric simulators.
“This state-of-the-art mobile unit will significantly increase the availability, quality, and reach of EMS training across the region,” according to a news release.
The newly funded project — Mobilizing Arkansas Delta Emergency Medical Responders (EMR) for Regional Impact — will expand the region’s training capacity.
The investment will support the purchase of a simulation-based teaching ambulance and two pediatric simulators, which together will allow ARHP and its partners to deliver on-site clinical instruction for EMR, EMT (emergency medical technician), AEMT (advanced emergency medical technician), paramedic and community paramedic training programs throughout the Delta. Over the next two years, the project is expected to train at least 124 individuals living and working in the Arkansas Delta.
“The Arkansas Rural Health Partnership is truly grateful for the Delta Regional Authority’s continued investment in strengthening the rural health workforce pipeline,” said Mellie Boagni, ARHP founder, president and chief executive officer. “This state-of-the-art simulation training unit will be transformative for our region. It will allow us to expand hands-on training opportunities for emergency medical responders and enhance the quality of care available to rural communities across the Delta.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The partnership has trained more than 45,000 frontline and health care professionals across rural Arkansas since 2008. In 2023, the partnership launched a formal EMS workforce initiative in partnership with ambulance services, community colleges and rural health care providers to address the urgent need for EMRs and EMTs.
Major investments from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Delta Regional Authority have supported the initiative’s rapid expansion, including more than $350,000 in scholarships for students pursuing EMR-related certifications, according to the release.
However, by late 2023, the need for EMS training had outpaced the capacity of regional partners. To address this gap, the partnership established the Arkansas Rural Health Academy in January 2024 as a state-approved training agency dedicated to meeting the growing needs of rural health care organizations.
For more information about the Arkansas Rural Health Academy and upcoming training opportunities, visit arruralhealth.org/the-arkansas-rural-health-academy-arkansas-rural-health-partnership/.
Details: Mellie Boagni, ARHP founder, president and CEO, at mellie@arruralhealth.org, or arruralhealth.org.