UPMC Chautauqua has recently expanded its training programs to offer individuals additional opportunities to enter the local workforce and meet the increasing need for health care services.

Brian Durniok, UPMC Chautauqua president, said the hospital has recently invested three different training programs.

“W.C.A. Services has done a great job of expanding their programs to develop EMS training not only for our local ambulance services, but for other services throughout the region,” he said.

Durniok explained that people are becoming increasingly aware of a real crisis taking place in rural areas throughout the country where there are not enough well-trained EMS professionals to provide adequate care for local communities. In order to combat the crisis and prevent the issue from increasing in the region, Durniok said the hospital has invested additional resources into its program and has expanded the size of its classes for training.

“We’ve recognized the need to have those resources,” he said. “We know it’s the right thing to do, whether you’re working for W.C.A. Services or you’re working for one of the other just local volunteer programs. It’s the right thing to do, so we’ve invested in that program, including additional new ambulances and so on.”

In addition to the hospital’s expansion of its EMS training opportunities, Durniok said the hospital recently constructed a new learning center at its Jones Memorial Health Center location. The new learning center now hosts the hospital’s medical technician school and radiology school.

“We expanded the footprint for that,” he said. “It really looks like a nice college learning environment with new technology and ability, the computers and digital screens and so on. We’ve expanded those class sizes as well.”

Durniok told The Post-Journal that the medical technician program for the hospital’s lab and the radiology technician school serve as “jumping off points” for people to start an entry level career, especially as UPMC Chautauqua employs both services at the hospital. Additionally, he said both programs provide opportunities for people if they decide they are interested in specializing in a certain career trajectory. He added that both the radiology technician and medical technician programs are valued programs with a plethora of opportunities for local students.

“We recognize that there’s always going to be a need for health care providers. This is a great career opportunity for people, whether it’s nursing or imaging or EMS or a medical technician,” he said. “We’re proud to be able to offer those courses in the training, and we’d like to be able to see local people get trained and have jobs locally. I think it’s kind of giving it back to the community. It helps the community and helps us.”