MINNEAPOLIS, MN – As access to emergency medical services (EMS) continues to be a top issue for leaders in Minnesota, U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) announced federal funding to bolster rural EMS services in the Southwest Metro region and the Arrowhead counties of Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis in Northeastern Minnesota. The funding was made available through the SIREN Act, which both Senators supported and was signed into law in October of this year.
The Arrowhead EMS Association will receive $5,000,000 to pilot real-time tele-EMS technologies to connect area responders to emergency personnel in areas with high traffic fatalities. Ridgeview Ambulance Service, based in Waconia and serving all of Carver County, portions of Hennepin, Le Sueur, McLeod, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley and Wright counties, will receive $170,000 to purchase a highly sophisticated patient care simulator. Ridgeview will also use the funding to host an EMT course in Le Sueur County that will be free to those that join their local ambulance service and provide more opportunities and flexibilities for paramedics to obtain continuing education hours.
“EMS providers are on the frontlines every single day, not only bridging the gap between life-threatening situations and treatment at local hospitals, but also providing critical care to people in their homes and communities. Their dedication and expertise are crucial for saving lives – but there’s a severe shortage in rural communities right now and it’s having a dire impact,” said Senator Smith. “These grants will help rural communities train new personnel, keep those personnel up to date on their licensure, and put in place an innovative telehealth option for communities in the Northland.”
“It is essential to have emergency medical services available throughout Minnesota to ensure access to health care and enhance public safety,” said Klobuchar. “These grants will keep emergency medical services in our rural communities by increasing training to grow our rural EMS workforce and providing workers more opportunities to stay qualified. Additionally, with the purchase of this new technology, we can enhance the efficiency and response times of emergency personnel.”
“Ridgeview is proud to receive these funds and put these dollars to work to ensure our communities have improved access to critical EMS services – including training new and more service providers to serve in our rural areas,” said Mark Anderson, Director of Ridgeview Ambulance. “Ridgeview will use these funds to pay for the initial and ongoing education required to help our EMS staff prepare for high-acuity clinical situations, reducing a barrier to becoming a rural EMS provider in the communities we serve.”
“Residents of rural and remote areas in NE Minnesota face significantly greater challenges than their urban counterparts in getting to definitive care after a crash. EMS teams have longer distances between EMS hubs and few-to-no nearby specialty centers available, resulting in increased response and transport times. We believe our NEARR-EMS program will help rural communities make the most of extremely limited resources,” said Adam Shadiow, Executive Director of the Arrowhead EMS Association.
Senators Smith and Klobuchar have heard from rural EMS providers across the state about their struggles. Smith and her staff have held meetings across Minnesota, from Hibbing to Barnesville, Blackduck, and New Richland, where local EMS leaders conveyed that first responders are in dire financial straits. Klobuchar has heard similar concerns in her visits with EMS personnel in Jackson and Hastings.
Both Senators cosponsor a bill to provide Medicare reimbursement for care provided by EMS when no transportation to the hospital is provided, called the Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-Scene Care and Support (EMS ROCS) Act. Under current law, if EMS responds to a call, provides care, and doesn’t transport the patient to a hospital, Medicare won’t reimburse for the costs of the trip, leaving smaller, rural departments to foot the bill.
###
English