Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, N.J., has opened a center for training emergency responders and for educating community members about health and wellness.
Located near one of Trinitas' two Elizabeth campuses, the $5.3 million Center of Regional Education provides training facilities for paramedics and emergency medical technicians, classroom space for health education and meeting rooms for community organizations.
Nadine Brechner, chief development officer for Trinitas, said the Elizabeth community always has provided emergency responder training, but previously the education had been provided in various venues. Now, there is one centralized place where people can train for emergency response work, or where current responders can get continuing education or credentialing.
The community health education includes free seminars and presentations that will help people take responsibility for their health, including chronic conditions, said Brechner. She said people also will learn how best to use the local health system, for instance, by learning when emergency department use is appropriate and when it may not be. In the future, the center may add a library and computers for people to access health information.
Medical professionals in the emergency responder community in Elizabeth will teach the emergency responder education, and professionals from Trinitas will teach the community health courses.
The facility was funded entirely by government grants and by donations from individuals, corporations and foundations.
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