Building new relationships and fostering existing ones are keys to success both in business and higher education. Jefferson College of Health Sciences, located in Roanoke, Va., used this principle to provide a new opportunity for the college and Roanoke Fire & EMS.

The college and the city had an existing relationship through the college's associate-degree paramedic program, and both the current chief and deputy chief of technical services are alumni of that program. It was only natural that the city and the college expand their partnership by developing a new and innovative approach for promoting fire and EMS higher education and developing qualified recruits.

The fire and EMS technology associate-degree program admitted its first class in fall 2001. Virginia Department of Fire Programs courses and U.S. Fire Administration's Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education courses formed the core of the program. However, Jefferson's program differs from most fire science programs.

The program is designed to meet the educational needs of individuals aspiring to a career in fire and EMS. To that end, the program not only provides classroom instruction, but also offers hands-on laboratory and practical experiences that allow students to obtain Firefighter II and other certifications. The program also responds to the work force demands by calling not only for EMT-Basic-certified firefighters, but for advanced life support-certified firefighters. The curriculum was redesigned in fall 2006 to enable the students to complete the required course work for National Registry EMT-Intermediate certification. Originally the program prepared the students to sit for the EMT-Basic certification.

The program's goal is to prepare competent entry-level firefighter/EMT-Intermediates. Based on the director's experience teaching paramedics for more than 20 years, he knew that if the same type of internship could be established for the fire students, the graduate would be better prepared to enter the work force. To assist in meeting the program's goal, the college approached the city of Roanoke to develop a hands-on fire internship as a capstone experience that is completed during the last semester. While other programs have observational internships, this is a true participatory internship on engine and ladder companies.

Discussions ensued with then-Chief Jim Grigsby, then-Deputy Chief David Hoback and Deputy Chief of Operations Ralph Tartaglia about what experiences might be provided. The primary concern was ensuring the students safety and identity while providing a quality experience. After weeks of planning, they established a formal contract.

The program's success required getting buy-in from station personnel and identifying preceptors. To do this, Capt. Werner Van Damme, who recently had been promoted, became project manager. He and Glen Mayhew worked together to identify the appropriate stations and developed the preceptor training program. They decided that either the station captain or lieutenant would serve as the preceptor. Participating stations and battalion chiefs attended mandatory informational sessions and training programs. Each preceptor received a preceptor manual and each station received a master manual that outlined policies, contact information and evaluation information.

A list of do's and don'ts established safety concerns, and the color “orange” tackled identity concerns. The list was distributed and discussed during preceptor and student orientation sessions. The color orange became part of the student uniform (T-shirt, sweatshirt, golf shirt), accountability tags and trapezoids on the helmet. The universal visual indicator helps ensure that operational personnel can identify students. Additionally, students complete their annual mask fit-testing and have their PPE checked to ensure that standards were met.

The students complete approximately 120 hours of ride time split evenly between an engine company and a ladder company to ensure that students have an understanding of operations for each. This provides students ample time to respond to a variety of different situations. The 120 hours is in addition to their internship time for the NREMT-Intermediate requirements. The 12-hour shifts place one student with a piece of apparatus. Students assist with the daily apparatus check-off and complete an apparatus analysis form to familiarize themselves with the truck. During the shift, students complete station duties, interact with personnel, participate in station training and respond to calls. At the end of each shift, the preceptor completes a run log and an evaluation of students' skills, knowledge and professional behavior.

Any new project faces challenges; fortunately venture had minimal bumps. Mayhew or Asst. Director Tommy Harper visit the participating stations on a regular basis to ensure that the program is running smoothly and keep in contact with Van Damme to review feedback.

“The internship program provides the students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to actual emergencies,” Van Damme says. “They experience the daily interaction, professionalism and teamwork required on both fire and EMS responses.”

The feedback from students and preceptors has been extremely positive. Preceptors indicate that the students are well prepared, ask great questions and provide an extra set of hands when needed on the emergency scene. They consistently comment that having students around asking questions help keep their minds engaged. Student feedback indicates that they felt welcomed in the station, became better oriented to the professional duties of new hire firefighter and often are invited back to run extra shifts as observers. To date, there have been only three minor negative occurrences. One involved a student that was going to be late calling the wrong station and awakening personnel, another who was left at the gym when an alarm came in, and one who forgot his money to help pay for daily meals.

At the end of the internship, students complete course evaluations and vote for a preceptor of the year award. Evaluations are shared with Van Damme and fire administrative personnel so they can make any necessary changes and to recognize the positive aspects of the program. The preceptor of the year receives recognition by the college and fire/EMS administration in the form of a plaque and is invited to the programmatic graduation dinner.

“That the externship program provides the students the opportunity to put to practice their various learning experiences into a real-world environment while utilizing the preceptor as a conduit for bridging the gap between the two,” says Capt. Chris Brown, the 2007 Preceptor of the Year.

To date, the program has graduated 37 students from throughout Virginia and other states including South Carolina, Massachusetts and Arkansas. The students have accepted firefighter/EMS positions in Roanoke, throughout Virginia and other states. The program matriculated a full class of 15, in fall 2007, which may require expansion of the program to adjoining jurisdictions. Future plans also include moving the program to the Bachelors level incorporating more FESHE courses, NREMT-Paramedic certification and management courses, thus producing the ultimate graduate for today's evolving work force.

The fire department administration views the program as a proactive means for recruiting students who are both academically and professionally prepared. The partnership provides the students with a better understanding of how the service operates on a daily basis and allows the city to showcase their system. This is particularly crucial for those students who are from another region or state. The partnership has produced a consistent flow of applicants and new hires for the city to help fulfill their employment needs. The college views it as a win/win situation by providing an exceptional capstone course and the student with an excellent career opportunity. This program serves as an example of how partnerships between municipalities and colleges or universities can foster positive outcomes for both entities.

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Glen Mayhew, DHSc, NREMT-P, is an assistant dean and associate professor at Jefferson College of Health Sciences. He serves as the director of both the paramedic and fire/EMS technology programs and has been actively involved in fire and EMS education for more than 20 years. Mayhew is a firefighter/paramedic and has served in both career and volunteer capacities. He also serves as a squad leader for the Bedford County Special Operations Command and as an accreditation site visitor for the Virginia Office of EMS. Mayhew has achieved an associate's degree in emergency health sciences-paramedic, bachelor's degree in health-care administration, master's degree in education and a doctorate degree in health sciences. He can be reached at glen@jchs.edu.

David Hoback, EFO, CFO, NREMT-P, has been an employee of the city of Roanoke for 22 years. He started his career as a volunteer in 1979, earned his paramedic certification in 1985 through the College of Health Sciences, as well as his Firefighter I and II certifications. His administrative career started as the deputy coordinator of emergency management. With the merger of fire and EMS in 1995 he became the battalion chief over EMS operations. Hoback was promoted to deputy chief in 2003 and chief of the department in 2007. He holds a bachelor's degree in fire administration, Executive Fire Officer and Chief Fire Officer designation. His department is internationally accredited and was recently reaccredited in August 2007. He can be reached at David.Hoback@roanokeva.gov.