Platteville EMS EMTs wanting to become paramedics with the transfer of EMS services to Southwest Health may be able to take classes at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College.

SWTC said in a news release that it is considering adding paramedic training after discussing the subject with Southwest Health and Tri-State Ambulance of La Crosse, which is also a paramedic-level service.

SWTC now provides First Responder, EMT and Advanced EMT training, as well as refresher and continuing education courses.

Platteville EMS would be the only paramedic service based in Southwest Wisconsin. Currently only Barneveld, Dickeyville, Dodgeville, Highland, Lancaster, Mineral Point, Platteville and Potosi are EMT–Intermediate. All other EMT services are Basic level, including Belmont, Cuba City and Montfort. Twelve communities, including Livingston–Clifton and Rewey, have First Responder services.

Besides Tri-State Ambulance, which serves Prairie du Chien, Paramount Ambulance in Dubuque is a paramedic service.

The release said that if SWTC determines that paramedic courses are feasible, Southwest Tech’s EMS instructors would work with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and local stakeholders to develop the curriculum. New programs require approval by the Southwest Tech District Board of Directors and the Wisconsin Technical College System State Board of Directors. Paramedic training could begin at Southwest Tech in August 2016. 

Paramedic training would be added to, not replace, Southwest Tech’s current EMS training programs. SWTC said in the news release it will continue to offer First Responder, EMT, and Advanced EMT training and refresher courses.