Las Vegas, Nev. — MountainView Hospital, a full-service teaching hospital in northwest Las Vegas, celebrated its fourth graduating class of Paramedics from the hospital’s Paramedic Institute. Cohort 5 included 62 students from 10 agencies throughout Southern Nevada.
Launched in 2020, the MountainView Hospital Paramedic Institute is currently the only hospital in Las Vegas, as well as within parent company HCA Healthcare, to offer an extensive education and training program for prehospital professionals throughout the Las Vegas Valley.
Cohort 5 of paramedic provider students took part in a 57-week program that involved a stringent didactic regimen, skills practice lab and hands-on clinical immersion. MountainView partnered with local fire departments and private EMS agencies in creation of the program. Students attending the institute were sponsored by the agencies. The valedictorian of Cohort 5 is Austin Ekanger, with Henderson Fire Department.
"This is a true testament to the power of collaboration. MountainView Hospital, alongside our dedicated community partners, is demonstrating that remarkable outcomes occur when we combine our strengths to pursue a shared goal," said Troy Tuke, RN, NREMT-P, program director for the MountainView Hospital Paramedic Institute. "Our students are entering the field fully prepared, ready to provide exceptional care to the residents and visitors of the Las Vegas Valley.”
The most recent cohort included students representing 10 Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) Licensed EMS agencies including AMR Ambulance, Boulder City Fire Department, Community Ambulance, Clark County Fire Department, Henderson Fire Department, Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, Mesquite Fire and Rescue, Moapa Valley Fire District, Mount Charleston Fire Department, Medic West Ambulance and North Las Vegas Fire Department.
The 57-week, clinically immersive program included two didactic blocks with two clinical block rotations. Students also had to complete numerous industry certifications, including Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS), Pre Hospital Trauma Life support (PHTLS) and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) among others. Students also had to successfully complete the National Registry of EMT Psychomotor exam, the Southern Nevada Health District Protocol Exam and successful completion of an agency field internship. This qualified each student to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Paramedic (NREMT) cognitive exam.
Graduates from Cohort 5 have all passed their NREMT cognitive exam and are working in the field as Paramedics.
"Congratulations to the fifth graduating class of the MountainView Hospital Paramedic Institute. The dedication these graduates have demonstrated — not only to their profession, but to the health and well-being of our community — is truly commendable," said Chief Executive Officer of MountainView Hospital Alexis Mussi. "We also extend our sincere gratitude to our agency partners, whose steadfast support plays a vital role in preparing the skilled medical professionals who serve our community each day."
The need for paramedic schools in Southern Nevada is great, as the area, much like the rest of the nation, is experiencing a Paramedic/EMS provider shortage. This has been exasperated by an aging workforce, and overall decline in interest in the paramedic profession.
The MountainView Hospital Paramedic Institute is now in its sixth cohort of 65 students.
MountainView Hospital is a regional leader in medical education, including paramedics, nursing and pharmacy. MountainView is also home to the Sunrise Health Graduate Medical Education Consortium, which includes more than 250 residents and fellows in numerous disciplines including emergency medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, radiology, anesthesiology and OBGYN, physical medicine and rehabilitation.