Craig Armstrong 

A little over a year ago the Unit of EMS and the Department of Health & Senior Services started working with Missouri training entities to shift all EMT and paramedic written testing over to a computer based system.  The National Registry of EMT’s instituted this change but in reality the UEMS was the agency which had to take the bull by the horns.

Hundreds of EMT and paramedic training entities around the state with thousands of students needed to figure out a new process.  Many were confused, some unhappy and a few just curious as to how this technological advancement would work out.

Change of this magnitude sounded like a major undertaking and one that would be fraught with peril.  To some folks change comes easy but to students who have invested time and money in seeking a career, this type of change can bring more pressure.

A computer based testing system could conceivably be a good improvement in the EMS system.  It should speed up the delivery of test results, provide better data to training entities, improve test security, allow students to schedule tests in many locations around the nation and pass/fail rates would be more easily tracked and compared.  This sounds great but the proof would be in the pudding of success.

Success it was!  My impression is that the great idea of computer testing is now a reality. The computer testing has met the objectives originally spelled out and we should congratulate the UEMS for a job well done.  Hats off to Paula Kempf, Greg Natsch and the folks at the UEMS!