UNT Health, Parker County Hospital District partner to strengthen rural EMS workforce
A partnership between UNT Health Fort Worth and Parker County Hospital District (PCHD) is helping strengthen emergency medical services in rural North Texas through federal grant funding supporting workforce training and development.
In recognition of National First Responders Day on Oct. 28, the organizations are highlighting ongoing efforts to expand training opportunities, support first responder wellness and prepare the next generation of emergency medical professionals.
The initiative is supported by grant funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
“Addressing the healthcare workforce challenges facing our rural communities requires strong partnerships and a commitment to investing in the next generation,” said Randy Bacus, CEO of Parker County Hospital District. “Our collaboration with UNT Health Fort Worth has been instrumental in obtaining grant funding that allows us to expand educational opportunities and strengthen our local EMS workforce. What began with fewer than 10 students has grown into three classes, demonstrating both the demand for these opportunities and the success of our efforts to build a stronger EMS workforce for Parker County and the surrounding communities.”
The funding was secured through three separate grant awards, beginning with a one-year award in 2023, followed by a two-year award covering 2024-2026 and another two-year award for 2026-2028.
Kari Northeim, PhD, MBA, an assistant professor in the UNT Health Department of Public Health, and Chris Briggs, PCHD's deputy director of EMS, serve as co-principal investigators. They oversee the initiative's education and training efforts, with a focus on strengthening rural emergency response and supporting the EMS workforce.
“As an assistant professor and principal co-investigator, I explore the ways we can support rural communities from an academic lens,” Northeim said. “As a team, our focus is on the sustainability of EMS workers and ensuring they are well supported in their profession.”
Expanding EMS training opportunities
To help address workforce needs in rural communities, PCHD has expanded its EMS Academy, which offers a 36-week hybrid program for high school seniors and a five-month program for adults. The training prepares participants for careers in emergency medical services and helps build a pipeline of future responders.
Through SAMHSA grant funding, PCHD has purchased emergency medical training equipment, including advanced simulation mannequins and software that provides feedback on trainees' performance. PCHD also works with Parker County school districts to offer tuition scholarships that make EMS education and training more accessible to students.
The initiative supports advanced training for critical care paramedics, including blood administration and patient stabilization. These skills can be especially important when patients require time-sensitive emergency care.
In August 2026, Parker County EMS responded to 1,126 911 calls and reported a 91% first-attempt success rate for intubation, a procedure used to place a breathing tube into a patient's airway. Successful placement on the first attempt can help reduce the risk of complications associated with repeated attempts.
“Thanks to trainings in advanced prehospital care, more patients reach the celebratory stage of signing the survivor board and can look forward to their life as a survivor,” said Paige Tolliver, PCHD's SAMHSA grant coordinator.
Supporting first responder wellness
Beyond technical training, the initiative emphasizes the mental health and well-being of emergency medical professionals, who regularly encounter stressful and potentially traumatic situations.
A 2018 study published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology found that ambulance personnel experience post-traumatic stress disorder at higher rates than the general population.
“This grant helped ensure future professionals receive training beyond the classroom, with an emphasis on supporting the self-care and mental wellness of the first responders who serve our community,” Tolliver said.
At UNT Health Fort Worth, Sydney Jarvis, a doctoral student in public health sciences, is studying the psychological challenges EMS workers face. Her research complements broader efforts to better understand the pressures of emergency response and identify ways to support those who provide care in high-stress situations.
This past summer, Jarvis and Northeim coordinated the first Prehospital Care Research Forum at UNT Health Fort Worth. The forum brought together clinicians, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, nurses and other health care providers to develop research skills, collaborate on projects and identify gaps in existing research.
“In the past, the work conducted at the PCRF workshops have helped me progress further in my Ph.D.,” Jarvis said.
The forum resulted in five finalized research projects, two of which were accepted as oral abstracts. Jarvis hopes to continue developing her research on the psychological challenges EMS workers face through future workshops.
“I am excited to see how UNT Health’s support of this workshop develops, and I look forward to further developing my research,” Jarvis said.
Strengthening the rural EMS workforce
Recruiting and retaining qualified emergency medical professionals remains an ongoing challenge. According to the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, 7.1% of emergency medical technicians and 7.9% of paramedics renewing their certifications reported they were likely to leave the field within 12 months.
Through continued collaboration, PCHD and UNT Health are working to strengthen the EMS workforce and support rural communities.
PCHD also serves as a practice site for Master of Public Health students at UNT Health Fort Worth, creating opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience addressing community health needs.
Together, these efforts support the organizations' shared commitment to preparing emergency medical professionals and strengthening access to emergency care in rural North Texas.