On any given night a number of local residents, those from nearby and some from not so near counties may be found in the 100 block of West First Street in downtown Rushville. There is no need for alarm, they are simply taking a break from studies at the Tri-County Medical Academy, one of the county’s newest businesses.

Director of the school and Fayette County resident Bill Hufford is no stranger to the emergency medical field, having logged more than 28 years of in-field medical care and more than 20 years as an instructor.

Originally from North Carolina, Hufford became an EMT in 1981 and later a paramedic.

A four year stint in the U.S. Navy, from 1987 through 1991, found Hufford serving during both Desert Storm and Desert Shield where he was tapped to be in division school as a trainer and became a primary instructor teaching military EMT training.

“I have basically been in the medical field and working for ambulance services my entire adult life,” Hufford said.

After serving his country, Hufford settled in Ohio for a couple of years prior to relocating to Indiana and becoming the Director of EMS in Logansport. That move was followed to his current residence in Connersville, where he served as a flight medic on an air ambulance and followed that by again returning to the field and working for an ambulance service.

“About three years ago, I simply got tired of working for everyone else and wanted to go into business for myself. That is when I opened my own school, the Tri-County Training Academy,” Hufford said.

The operation began in the converted garage of his home, to later holding classes in fire department training rooms and has since expanded to its current home in Rushville.

The medical training school currently has an average enrollment of nearly 150 students gaining instruction at various levels of in-field medical care: EMT-B, EMT-Advance and EMT-paramedic.

“I don’t think that a lot of people realize the capabilities of an EMT or that of a paramedic. During a life threatening emergency such as difficulty breathing or a heart attack the paramedic ambulance has the capability to administer the exact same medications as that of an emergency room, the only difference is that they are administered right at the scene and not 20 to 30 minutes later at the hospital. That definitely increases the chance for survival. We more or less bring the emergency room to the patient,” he said.

Completing the course is just one step in the process of becoming an EMT or paramedic. Specified ride time with trained medical personnel on an ambulance, hospital emergency room clinical time and successfully passing the State of Indiana exam are also required.

“Once the classroom instruction and the other requirements are met individuals are eligible to sit for the state boards. Just like nursing you are not a nurse when you complete nursing school, you still have to pass the state boards,” Hufford said.

The instructor said Tri-County Training Academy has a high pass rate for those taking the state exam.

“We are an Indiana Department of Homeland Security advanced training center and offer the only state-based program that teaches the tactic-medic program. Once that training is complete it allows the EMT or paramedic to go with an area SWAT Team and act as part of that team. It also entitles the individual to be on an entry team at a state prison,” the instructor said.

When asked about his concerns regarding opening a business in the current economic climate Hufford said that quality trained medical personnel have been, are and will always be needed.