HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The Hopkinsville paramedic program will be the first in the nation to launch hybrid online classes state-wide by January of next year. The program was made in order to address the state’s paramedic shortage.
At a Committee of the Whole meeting on Nov. 21, Fire Chief and EMS Director Steven Futrell said the program is already receiving state accolades and national recognition for its early success. Already, other states are reaching out to learn how to implement similar programs.
“We already have 156 applicants for this paramedic program,” Futrell told the committee. “In 2023, the entire state made 60 paramedics. And the state is losing 100 paramedics a year. It’s a national shortage of paramedics because they go to other jobs, or find different money, or they retire. So, we knew we had to do something.”
Hopkinsville’s paramedic program was chosen to pilot the classes due to its 100% pass rate with training paramedics as well as their high total economic impact. The program will offer a hybrid of online and in-person courses and will be accompanied by check-ups to ensure that applicants get proper hands-on training. Futrell said “We have sixteen partner agencies that we’re running this with. It will be held here in Hopkinsville out of our building, and there will be satellite stations for online usage.”
Futrell said this will make a huge difference in east and west Kentucky where there are no new medics being trained. This is because between 50-80% of all paramedics are in the Lexington, Louisville, and Frankfort area. He added that this program would not have been possible without the Deputy Chief of EMS Operations Phillip Ferguson, who now sits on a state board, who pushed for this programs release.