The Springfield community needs more paramedics and emergency medical technicians, and Lincoln Land Community College is ready to train them.
Three years ago, LLCC received a federal grant to address the “urgent community need” for emergency services workers. The funds were intended to pay for the renovation of Logan Hall on the LLCC campus to expand training space for EMTs, advanced EMTs and paramedics and also purchase a working ambulance and state-of-the-art equipment with the new school year starting, more students will be better equipped to learn to save lives in emergency situations.
“When there is a shortage of emergency services personnel, people have to wait longer for a paramedic or EMT to arrive at their homes,” said Cynthia Maskey, dean of health professions at LLCC. “Several years ago, we started meeting with the EMS systems based at Memorial Health and HSHS to discuss how we could address this shortage. From those discussions, we’ve made curriculum changes, and we have the physicians who are the EMS directors in each system teaching here regularly. Now we have this amazing new facility, and we’re hoping ‘If you build it, they will come.'”
And the students are coming. Emergency management technician classes are “bursting,” said Maskey, and paramedic classes are also filling up quickly. “Enrollments for all health professions are really good, and the hope is we’ll be getting more as people tour and learn about our new facilities,” she said.
The new spaces include a simulated apartment where students will practice their skills. “When there’s a 911 call and EMTs and paramedics go into a home, the most common place they find people is in the bathroom,” said Maskey. “So our ‘apartment’ has a full bathroom, as well as a kitchen, living area and bedroom. Students can work through many different scenarios in a realistic environment.”
Down the hall are new simulation labs, including a “trauma room” that will be shared with the college’s radiography program. “EMS students can practice the cycle of care that might start with arriving at the home, initial assessment, treatment and transport to the hospital where the patient would be transferred for additional diagnostics, such as X-rays and further medical attention,” she said.
Instructors and students will continue to train using the program’s stationary, indoor ambulance simulator, but the addition of a working ambulance is a big step forward.
“We now have the classrooms, simulation labs, apartment and a real ambulance our students will be able to drive and train in and even VR (virtual reality) simulators for mass casualty scenarios,” said Kyla Kruse, LLCC chief communications officer. “The renovations in Logan Hall, which also houses occupational therapy assistant, radiography and sonography programs, are just going to make for a great experience and connection between the different health professions programs.”
Maskey said hospitals, ambulance companies and others who employ EMTs are very supportive in helping students with tuition costs. “They want EMTs to become advanced EMTs and paramedics. EMT is the starting point for those and other programs in health professions. EMT provides a great background to go into nursing, for example, and with multiple degrees and certificates, you can write your own ticket in the field.”
There is also a remote attendance option in the paramedic program, if EMTs are working and unable to attend class. “We work with students to keep them on the job in service to the community while also allowing them to advance,” said Kruse.
Overall job placement for LLCC paramedic graduates is 97.5%. Nick Ferreira, program director of the LLCC emergency services program, said of average salaries in this area, “Depending on agency type and if a provider works full time, an EMT could make $50,000 per year, AEMT could be around $60,000 and a paramedic around $70,000. Many like the work schedule of three days on and four days off.”
There are programs that can assist qualified students with EMS program costs including Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce, or PATH.
Maskey says students who pursue a career in emergency services generally like excitement and don’t see themselves sitting behind a desk, doing the same thing every day. “In emergency services, every day is a new adventure. You’ll always be learning because it’s going to be different every day. You are always going to be helping.”
“When someone calls 911, it generally is their lowest point,” she added. “They need help. Sometimes they just need to hear, ‘It’s OK, take some deep breaths.’
Whether it’s getting them to the hospital right away, or stopping bleeding, or just helping them calm down, there is instant gratification if you’re that helper. You may also hear, ‘You’re my hero,'” Maskey said.
This article appears in CC Jobs Fall 2025.
