REMSA Health Recruits Australian Medics to Address Paramedic Shortage
As ambulance services across the United States confront a deepening paramedic shortage with no clear end in sight, REMSA Health is looking abroad to address the crisis.
Over the last 18 months, REMSA Health successfully recruited highly trained paramedics from Australia through a first-of-its-kind partnership with International Medic Solutions. Three Australian paramedics have completed the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians examination, earned full U.S. licensure and are actively serving the northern Nevada community as credentialed REMSA Health paramedics. Three additional clinicians are completing their paramedic internships and will be joining the workforce by the fall.
The program addresses a growing need for paramedics in the U.S., where EMS agencies are struggling to attract and retain paramedics. Meanwhile, there is a surplus in Australia. According to International Medic Solutions, roughly 80% more paramedics graduate each year than there are jobs to fill. That imbalance represented an opportunity for REMSA Health.
“These are highly trained professionals who are ready to begin a meaningful career in emergency medical services,” said Adam Heinz, chief operating officer at REMSA Health. “We are thrilled to welcome them to our community and to our organization. This partnership reflects the kind of forward-thinking and innovative solutions that REMSA Health has pioneered for decades.”
REMSA Health’s Australian medic recruits undergo a multi-stage process designed to ensure clinical competency in the U.S. and regional EMS system, including:
- Virtual National Registry preparatory coursework prior to arrival in the United States
- In-person National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) training in San Diego, followed by the national certification examination
- A structured REMSA Health field training period providing supervised field experience in northern Nevada
- A two-year employment commitment, with pathways for extension
REMSA Health and International Medic Solutions provide comprehensive onboarding support throughout, including relocation and housing assistance, mental health check-ins and cultural acclimation resources—ensuring new medics can succeed personally and professionally in their new community.
“Back home in Australia, there are actually more paramedic graduates than available jobs, which makes the process really competitive and often slow—it can even take years after graduating to get hired,” said Kyra Krukowitch, international paramedic, REMSA Health. “This program gave me a clear path back into my career with an expanded scope, along with an amazing opportunity to experience something new while continuing to do what I love: helping people when it matters most.”
The paramedic workforce shortage extends beyond northern Nevada; it is a national crisis. According to a report from EMS1 and Fitch & Associates, nearly 60% of EMS agencies nationwide report insufficient staffing to meet 911 call demands. EMS agencies across the country are competing for a shrinking pool of professionals. REMSA Health’s international recruitment strategy offers a replicable framework that other agencies can adapt, complete with a tested partnership model, visa processing support and a structured onboarding pathway.
International Medic Solutions currently works with agencies in Texas, Oregon and Nevada. REMSA Health is the only organization in Nevada, and one of the first in the country, to use the program to successfully credential and deploy Australian paramedics at this scale.
