Strengthening Emergency Response in the North Country

FDRHPO EMS Program Agency expands recruitment and retention to boost the regional EMS workforce

The Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization (FDRHPO) EMS Program Agency is addressing one of the growing challenges in rural healthcare – recruiting and retaining Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals.

Through workforce initiatives, including an EMS internship program and financial aid options for a newly established paramedic scholarship, the FDRHPO EMS Program Agency is helping to create a stronger pipeline of future EMS Providers in Northern New York and the Mountain Lakes Region.

“EMS providers play a crucial role in community health and safety,” said Jonathan Cole, EMS Program Agency Director at FDRHPO. “They provide life-saving care during medical emergencies and act as a vital link between patients and the healthcare system.”

However, rural areas across the country face workforce shortages and training barriers, which is why the FDRHPO EMS Program Agency is making recruitment and retention a top priority for regional EMS leaders.

To help address this challenge, the FDRHPO EMS Program Agency is launching initiatives to provide students and prospective EMS providers with hands-on learning experiences, such as job shadowing and internships, while supporting current providers who want to advance their education and careers and remain in the profession.

Creating Pathways to EMS Careers

A key initiative is the EMS Internship Program, offering hands-on experience, mentorship, and exposure to real-world EMS operations for those interested in emergency services. It aims to connect participants with regional EMS leaders, develop professional skills, and familiarize them with the realities of prehospital emergency care.

Offering observational and experiential learning opportunities through the internship program allows interested community members and students to explore EMS as a career while strengthening relationships between EMS Agencies and future providers. The internship program is volunteer and requires 8 to 12 hours to complete.

Supporting Education Through Scholarships

Along with offering career exploration opportunities, FDRHPO is working to reduce financial barriers to advanced training through its Paramedic Scholarship Program. The scholarship supports individuals pursuing paramedic education, helping EMS agencies keep experienced providers and increasing the number of advanced life support clinicians in the region.

These scholarships, offered in the North Country and Mountain Lakes Region, offset the cost of tuition and related training expenses, enabling more EMS providers and aspiring providers to continue their professional development and advance their careers.

Strengthening EMS Across Northern New York and the Mountain Lakes Regions

The FDRHPO EMS Program Agency supports more than 175 EMS agencies across an eight-county region in Northern New York. Program agencies provide essential services, including training coordination, credentialing support, quality improvement initiatives, and technical assistance to EMS providers and agencies.

“Highly trained and skilled EMS professionals are essential to the health and safety of communities across the North Country,” said Mr. Cole. “Our region depends on dedicated EMS providers who are prepared to respond to emergencies in all conditions. Through programs like the state’s internship opportunities and our paramedic scholarships, the EMS Program Agency is committed to supporting the next generation of providers while also investing in the continued development and retention of the professionals who serve our communities every day.”

Building the Next Generation of EMS Professionals

By working with regional EMS agencies, educational institutions, and community partners, FDRHPO stays dedicated to creating innovative solutions that tackle workforce shortages and promote the long-term viability of EMS in rural areas.

Anyone interested in participating in the EMS Internship Program or applying to the Paramedic Scholarship Program can learn more by visiting www.fdrhpo.org/recruitmentretention.