The Bay College EMT/Paramedic program ambulance, parked in front of the Bay College Iron Mountain campus. Bay College this fall will expanded Emergency Medical Services programs to the Iron Mountain campus. (Contributed photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Bay College this fall will expand its Emergency Medical Services programs, including paramedic and EMT training, to the Bay College Iron Mountain Campus, the college announced Thursday.

Luce County, in partnership with the Luce County Ambulance Service based in Newberry, will also host the program in the eastern Upper Peninsula.

Pending final approval from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of EMS, Trauma and Preparedness, these additional sites will increase access to high-quality emergency medical education in rural and underserved areas, according to the college’s news release.

“This expansion reflects Bay College’s continued commitment to strengthening the EMS workforce across the Upper Peninsula,” the college states.

Courses at these new locations are scheduled to begin with the fall semester. The Iron Mountain campus will provide for students in Dickinson County and surrounding areas, while the Luce County offering will allow local learners to complete training through a direct partnership with the Luce County Ambulance Service.

Bay’s paramedic program is a 69-credit Associate of Applied Science degree in which part 1 is a 30-credit EMT-Basic certificate program and part 2 is a 39-credit paramedic completion program.

The EMT certificate program prepare graduates with entry-level competence to deliver care to patients on medical emergency sites and on transport by ambulance to the hospital under medical directions. The EMT has the emergency skills to assess a patient’s condition and manage respiratory, cardiac, trauma and many medical situations. Students have the option of ending the program after completing part 1 if they wish to gain experience in the field as EMTs, according to Bay’s website.

Those who continue in the program can earn an associate of applied science degree as paramedics. A paramedic is a more skilled health care professional who helps to stabilize or revive patients as they are being transported to an emergency room. The paramedic is the leader of the pre-hospital team and directs the care delivered by basic EMTs and first responders, according to Bay.

Bay College is approved by the MDHHS-BETP to provide EMS education and is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, based on the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions.

Those interested in becoming an EMT or a paramedic can contact the Allied Health Coordinator at 906-217-4073 for more information on gaining acceptance into either of these programs.

“Expanding our EMS offerings helps ensure that communities across our region have access to trained professionals who are prepared to respond in critical situations,” said Dr. Amy Reddinger, vice president of Academic Affairs and Educational Equity. “This is a vital step toward strengthening emergency care and workforce readiness in the Upper Peninsula.”

Bay College will begin fall semester classes Aug. 25. For more information on Bay College programs, go to www.baycollege.edu.