K21 Grant Helps MTEMS Purchase New Vehicles
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
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The ambulances will replace two of the organization's oldest vehicles, which have surpassed their life expectancy.
Over the past few years, MTEMS has been asked to expand its service area to cover communities whose volunteer ambulance services were having difficulties meeting the EMS needs of their citizens.
These communities went from volunteer basic life support services to advanced life support services with paid staff and the presence of a certified paramedic. Each one of these expansions, albeit important to provide coverage for these areas, has resulted in operating losses for the organization.
This has resulted in MTEMS being unable to continue with its previous ambulance replacement policy over the last few years.
"In recent years K21, in addressing the health needs of our county, has focused on grants that help enhance services offered by emergency service providers, rather than grants that are for basic equipment," said K21 President Rich Haddad. "This is because these types of organizations generally receive operating revenue from their local governments, as well as from the services they provide. But in this case, we felt it was extremely important to help MTEMS regain some of the ground they lost when they expanded into these other areas of Kosciusko County to maintain emergency coverage to those communities, even though they knew that the taxpayer subsidies and service revenues would not cover their operating expenses.
"We saw this as a one-time grant effort to help MTEMS get back on track with their operations and vehicle needs."
"We are very grateful to K21 for helping us to provide quality emergency care to the communities we serve," said MTEMS Administrator Scott Sigerfoos. "One of our growing concerns was being unable to answer a call because of the mechanical failure of one of our ambulances. Replacing our two oldest vehicles will not only ease that concern, but also allow us to save on vehicle maintenance costs."
Sigerfoos continued, "MTEMS has just recently been through a thorough organizational assessment by an outside consultant, and our board and staff have implemented many of the recommendations made in the report by making significant changes to our organization's operations to reduce expenses and increase revenue. With these new ambulances and the changes implemented, we are confident and excited to move forward and continue to provide quality care in this community."
The vehicles are on order and are expected to come to the area sometime in March, according to Sigerfoos.
K21 Health Foundation exists for the benefit of Kosciusko County citizens to ensure health care services are provided and to advance prevention and healthy lifestyles. For more information about the K21 Health Foundation, call 574-269-5188 or visit www.k21foundation.org[[In-content Ad]]
The ambulances will replace two of the organization's oldest vehicles, which have surpassed their life expectancy.
Over the past few years, MTEMS has been asked to expand its service area to cover communities whose volunteer ambulance services were having difficulties meeting the EMS needs of their citizens.
These communities went from volunteer basic life support services to advanced life support services with paid staff and the presence of a certified paramedic. Each one of these expansions, albeit important to provide coverage for these areas, has resulted in operating losses for the organization.
This has resulted in MTEMS being unable to continue with its previous ambulance replacement policy over the last few years.
"In recent years K21, in addressing the health needs of our county, has focused on grants that help enhance services offered by emergency service providers, rather than grants that are for basic equipment," said K21 President Rich Haddad. "This is because these types of organizations generally receive operating revenue from their local governments, as well as from the services they provide. But in this case, we felt it was extremely important to help MTEMS regain some of the ground they lost when they expanded into these other areas of Kosciusko County to maintain emergency coverage to those communities, even though they knew that the taxpayer subsidies and service revenues would not cover their operating expenses.
"We saw this as a one-time grant effort to help MTEMS get back on track with their operations and vehicle needs."
"We are very grateful to K21 for helping us to provide quality emergency care to the communities we serve," said MTEMS Administrator Scott Sigerfoos. "One of our growing concerns was being unable to answer a call because of the mechanical failure of one of our ambulances. Replacing our two oldest vehicles will not only ease that concern, but also allow us to save on vehicle maintenance costs."
Sigerfoos continued, "MTEMS has just recently been through a thorough organizational assessment by an outside consultant, and our board and staff have implemented many of the recommendations made in the report by making significant changes to our organization's operations to reduce expenses and increase revenue. With these new ambulances and the changes implemented, we are confident and excited to move forward and continue to provide quality care in this community."
The vehicles are on order and are expected to come to the area sometime in March, according to Sigerfoos.
K21 Health Foundation exists for the benefit of Kosciusko County citizens to ensure health care services are provided and to advance prevention and healthy lifestyles. For more information about the K21 Health Foundation, call 574-269-5188 or visit www.k21foundation.org[[In-content Ad]]
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