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<b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">NEWS RELEASE</span></b><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> </span></b><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">For Immediate Release Date: 07/20/21</span></b><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Contact: Public Information Office Phone: (919) 560-0000/Fax: (919) 560-0020</span></b><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">E-mail: </span></b><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> </span></b><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<a name="_Hlk77256678"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Durham County EMS Credentialed as NC Advanced EMS Education Institution</span></b></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77256678"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Credential from NCOEMS continues through 2024</span><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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<a name="_Hlk77241921"><b><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Durham, N.C. – </span></b></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">The
Emergency Medical Services Division of the Durham County Office of Emergency Services (OES) was once again credentialed earlier this month as a North Carolina Advanced EMS Education Institution by the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Service (OEMS).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">This recertification process occurs every four years and the current credential for Durham County EMS (DCoEMS)
continues through December 31, 2024. A letter was awarded to DCoEMS from the </span>
</span><a href="https://info.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/EMS/ems.htm"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division
of Health Services Regulations</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> after a
rigorous application process. Durham County is one of 33 programs in the central region and 93 statewide to be credentialed by the state.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">The
</span></span><a href="https://info.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/EMS/faqedu.htm"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">NC OEMS</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">
credential approves Durham County EMS to teach basic and advanced EMS initial and continuing education courses, and to renew providers at all certification levels – Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical
Technician (AEMT), and Paramedic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">“I would like to commend and wholeheartedly thank Assistant Chief for EMS Professional Development Jackie
Holmes and EMS System Medical Director Dr. Anjni Joiner and the entire EMS Division for their successful efforts in renewing the NC Advanced EMS Education Institution credential,” said General Manager of Community and Public Safety Jodi Miller. “This significant
accomplishment not only highlights the expertise and dedication of Durham’s EMS team, but it also demonstrates their commitment to providing outstanding care to our residents.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Under the guidance and leadership of Holmes and Dr. Joiner, Durham EMS staff gained approval from the NC
OEMS through an extensive application process designed to show the organization’s ability to provide quality educational services – which include proper staffing to conduct instruction, adequate and essential materials and equipment for training purposes,
and a proper learning environment to do classes – all while meeting the national and state guidelines.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">“We are honored to be credentialed again by the state EMS office and are excited to continue providing outstanding
education to our incredible team of practitioners,” said Durham County EMS Chief Paramedic Mark Lockhart. “This education builds upon our staff members’ existing knowledge base, enabling them to provide exceptional care to our patients.”</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">This credential allows Durham EMS to centralize much of the EMS education for providers, and to provide
seamless in-house training opportunities as necessary reducing the need and time for coordination with other institutions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">“As an OEMS educational institution, this helps keep our system providers credentialed and their education
and training current to industry standards,” Holmes said. “It keeps our ambulances and fire apparatus on the road providing exceptional care using the most current EMS educational practices.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoCommentText"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Durham County has maintained its designation as a North Carolina
Advanced EMS Education Institution since </span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">the 1990s, which included not only the application process, but also in-person inspections
made by OEMS officials of the education facilities and equipment. </span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">It also
continues a long-standing tradition of DCo EMS as a leader in the field of Emergency Medical Services since its founding in 1975.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Durham County EMS will open applications for current open positions in August with a new recruit academy beginning
in mid-October. The assessment center for the next new hire academy will take place September 7-10, 2021, with Recruit Academy 30 beginning October 18 with graduation on December 10, 2021.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">For more information regarding the Durham County EMS Division, visit their webpage
</span></span><a href="https://www.dconc.gov/county-departments/departments-a-e/emergency-medical-services"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">here</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">,
or contact Chief Lockhart at </span></span><a href="mailto:jlockhart@dconc.gov"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">jlockhart@dconc.gov</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">###</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk77241921"></span><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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