Council approves agreement with Pima Community College to expand paramedic training opportunities

The Sierra Vista City Council on Jan. 22 approved a memorandum of agreement with Pima Community College to allow paramedic students to complete mandated ride-along hours with Sierra Vista Fire/EMS and to enable city personnel who wish to train at Pima to do so.

Deputy/Assistant Chief (speaker identified as the fire department presenter) told the council that paramedic certification typically requires a minimum of 300 hours of ambulance ride-alongs and 300 hospital hours; accredited programs and precepting paramedics meet regulatory requirements enforced by the Arizona Department of Health Services and the base hospital (Canyon Vista Medical Center). The chief said Cochise College remains a primary training partner but that the Pima agreement gives staff and students a closer option for some employees who live in Tucson.

Council members asked whether liability waivers cover non-employee students riding on city ambulances. The chief and staff said waivers for non-employees are used and that Arizona Department of Health Services and the base hospital provide oversight of clinical practice; staff also said many students riding with Sierra Vista are already employed EMTs upgrading to paramedic certification. The council approved the intergovernmental agreement by voice vote.

Next steps include finalizing the agreement details and providing copies of standard waivers to council upon request.