Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing an Agreement between the City of Olympia and Tacoma Community College for Practical Skill Development of Paramedic Students
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign the Agreement with Tacoma Community College for practical skill development of paramedic students.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a Resolution authorizing the Agreement with Tacoma Community College for practical skill development of paramedic students.
Staff Contact:
Toby Levens, Administrative Supervisor, 360.753.8431
Mike Buchanan, Interim Deputy Chief, 360.753.8459
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
The City of Olympia Fire Department (OFD) has hosted paramedic students from a variety of in state and out of state programs for over 35 years. Providing this service has allowed paramedic students to be trained to a high level. Following this training and the completion of the paramedic program, these students have become valuable assets to their communities. Some of these students have gone on to become Thurston County and City of Olympia paramedic/firefighters. Every paramedic working for the Olympia Fire Department (OFD) has had the opportunity to receive training through a similar process by some other paramedic system.
The OFD currently has training agreements and regularly hosts students from Central Washington University and the College of Emergency Services. When a training agency, that has a prearranged agreement with Olympia, contacts the department to place a paramedic student, the Captain, Medical Services Officer (MSO) considers if the department has the capacity to take on a paramedic and which shift should be assigned. The shift assignment decision is usually based on the experience of the shift and how recently they may have hosted paramedic student training. When a shift paramedic has agreed to hosting a student, called being a preceptor, and the preceptor’s paramedics partner(s) are willing to be impacted, the school will be allowed to submit a student for consideration.
The OFD has worked with paramedic students for many years with no adverse effects. Paramedic students are well supervised by OFD paramedics and all liability for the actions of the student are covered by the training agency. No City of Olympia firefighter or firefighter paramedic positions are replaced by student paramedics. OFD limits the number of students at any one time and ideally staggers the students throughout the year.
The OFD paramedic that chooses to participate in training the paramedic student is rewarded with a chance to give something back to the profession. Additionally, serving as a preceptor to a paramedic student pushes OFD paramedics to keep up with the most recent developments in paramedic practices and education.
Tacoma Community College (TCC) is aware of the scheduling constraints we impose on the students. They have assured OFD that their scheduling can be adjusted to send students at times when we typically do not have other students.
In the end, this relationship serves TCC, OFD, the student paramedic in training, the preceptor paramedic, the community of the host agency and the community where the new paramedic eventually serves.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Well trained paramedics staff is an important facet to public safety.
Options:
1. Approve the Resolution authorizing the Agreement. Accept the terms of the Agreement and authorize the City Manager to sign the Agreement.
2. Do not approve the Resolution authorizing the Agreement and send back to staff for changes.
3. Consider the Resolution at another time.
Financial Impact:
There are no financial impacts related to this agreement.
Attachments:
Resolution
Agreement