Posted on September 18, 2019
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County EMS Department will purchase a used ambulance to replace the current transfer unit stationed at Starke Hospital.
EMS Director Travis Clary presented the Starke County Council members with the proposed purchase during their August meeting. He said that the transfer unit is an older ambulance on the fleet and is getting a lot of wear and tear with the department’s new transfer capabilities outside of the 50 mile area travel allowance.
The used ambulance is being sold by a broker. It is currently being used by the Keystone Valley Fire Department in Eastern Pennsylvania. Clary said the ambulance has low miles and isn’t being used much. The 2013 Chevy Duramax is being sold for $39,900. The only expense will be to outfit the ambulance with identifying decals. He will obtain quotes and take the lowest responsible quote for that work in a future meeting.
The transfer unit in operation now at the hospital will be used as a back up ambulance in the fleet after the newly purchased ambulance is in service. It is Clary’s hope that it will be in service by the end of October.
The council approved the purchase out of the Cumulative Capital Development Fund with a unanimous vote.
Showing posts with label Starke Co. EMS Department. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Starke Co. EMS Department. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Monday, August 26, 2019
Starke County EMS Requests Funds for Fuel, Maintenance
Posted on August 26, 2019
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Council members considered a request from the EMS department to transfer funds to cover fuel and maintenance costs.
Starke County EMS Director Travis Clary said the budget for fuel is exhausted. It’s been a busy year with the transfer unit and there were no funds added to the fuel line item when that transfer unit was put into operations. Transfers are up this year and about $15,000 is needed for now to help that line item in the budget.
In the meantime, Clary asked for $2,500 to be put into maintenance to help with building repair costs through the rest of the year.
Council President Dave Pearman suggested taking all of that money out of the part-time line item and transfer all of the requested funds to the necessary line items. Pearman said that they’ll keep an eye on it in September and October to see where all funds stand.
The council approved the requests with a unanimous vote.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Council members considered a request from the EMS department to transfer funds to cover fuel and maintenance costs.
Starke County EMS Director Travis Clary said the budget for fuel is exhausted. It’s been a busy year with the transfer unit and there were no funds added to the fuel line item when that transfer unit was put into operations. Transfers are up this year and about $15,000 is needed for now to help that line item in the budget.
In the meantime, Clary asked for $2,500 to be put into maintenance to help with building repair costs through the rest of the year.
Council President Dave Pearman suggested taking all of that money out of the part-time line item and transfer all of the requested funds to the necessary line items. Pearman said that they’ll keep an eye on it in September and October to see where all funds stand.
The council approved the requests with a unanimous vote.
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Starke County EMS Transfers Steady
Posted on July 9, 2019
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Ambulance transfers continue to be a steady income for the Starke County EMS Department.
Clerk Mary Lynn Ritchie reported to the county commissioners last week that 34 percent of the ambulance runs are transfers from Starke Hospital. The dedicated transfer unit at the hospital helps in the statistics.
Ritchie said the revenue situation is an incredible contrast from last year’s figures. The county was losing revenue due to a dedicated transfer unit from another entity at the hospital. Less than 20 percent of the county’s ambulance runs last year were transfers which hurt the revenue stream. Now with Starke County EMS staffing a transfer unit at the hospital 12 hours a day for the past three months, officials are starting to see larger numbers.
Ritchie reported that revenue is up in the first six months of the year.
“We’re up $31-grand and now we’re up for the first six months really so about $143,000,” said Ritchie. “The transfer unit is just a win-win for the community and for the county.”
EMS Director Travis Clary noted that the hours of operation for the transfer unit depends on the call volume, but it typically runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“We continue to branch out of the 50-mile radius of the county,” explained Clary. “We recently took a transfer to Chicago. We’ve been going to Fort Wayne and Indianapolis – areas we weren’t going before. We’re working closely with the hospital to meet their needs. We were commended at a recent meeting with the CNO and department directors. Everything has been going smoothly and they’re really happy with our services. We’ve actually been getting calls from other facilities wanting us to transfer people out! It’s just a need across Northwest Indiana trying to find ALS transport vehicles.”
The dedicated transfer unit at Starke Hospital has been in operation since the county’s reception of a new ambulance in March.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Ambulance transfers continue to be a steady income for the Starke County EMS Department.
Clerk Mary Lynn Ritchie reported to the county commissioners last week that 34 percent of the ambulance runs are transfers from Starke Hospital. The dedicated transfer unit at the hospital helps in the statistics.
Ritchie said the revenue situation is an incredible contrast from last year’s figures. The county was losing revenue due to a dedicated transfer unit from another entity at the hospital. Less than 20 percent of the county’s ambulance runs last year were transfers which hurt the revenue stream. Now with Starke County EMS staffing a transfer unit at the hospital 12 hours a day for the past three months, officials are starting to see larger numbers.
Ritchie reported that revenue is up in the first six months of the year.
“We’re up $31-grand and now we’re up for the first six months really so about $143,000,” said Ritchie. “The transfer unit is just a win-win for the community and for the county.”
EMS Director Travis Clary noted that the hours of operation for the transfer unit depends on the call volume, but it typically runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“We continue to branch out of the 50-mile radius of the county,” explained Clary. “We recently took a transfer to Chicago. We’ve been going to Fort Wayne and Indianapolis – areas we weren’t going before. We’re working closely with the hospital to meet their needs. We were commended at a recent meeting with the CNO and department directors. Everything has been going smoothly and they’re really happy with our services. We’ve actually been getting calls from other facilities wanting us to transfer people out! It’s just a need across Northwest Indiana trying to find ALS transport vehicles.”
The dedicated transfer unit at Starke Hospital has been in operation since the county’s reception of a new ambulance in March.
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
Starke County EMS Reports Increased Revenue with Transfers
Posted on June 12, 2019
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
An increase in ambulance transfers has resulted in increased revenue for the Starke County EMS Department so far this year.
EMS Clerk Mary Lynn Ritchie explained to the Starke County Commissioners last week that 39 percent of the runs in the last month were transfers from the hospital. Transfers are the department’s main source of income.
With the dedicated transfer unit at Starke Hospital and the regular EMS duties, Ritchie said the revenue is much higher than at this time last year.
“That’s the highest revenue I’ve seen from this department in many moons,” said Ritchie. “We’re up $43,000. The total that we’re up for the year is $111,000 over last year’s income.”
When the Starke County EMS Department decided to purchase a new ambulance for this year, they proposed using one of their existing, older ambulances as a dedicated transfer unit at Starke Hospital. It was the hope of officials that it would increase revenue and so far that’s the case. The increase will also help pay for the employees who staff the transfer unit.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
An increase in ambulance transfers has resulted in increased revenue for the Starke County EMS Department so far this year.
EMS Clerk Mary Lynn Ritchie explained to the Starke County Commissioners last week that 39 percent of the runs in the last month were transfers from the hospital. Transfers are the department’s main source of income.
With the dedicated transfer unit at Starke Hospital and the regular EMS duties, Ritchie said the revenue is much higher than at this time last year.
“That’s the highest revenue I’ve seen from this department in many moons,” said Ritchie. “We’re up $43,000. The total that we’re up for the year is $111,000 over last year’s income.”
When the Starke County EMS Department decided to purchase a new ambulance for this year, they proposed using one of their existing, older ambulances as a dedicated transfer unit at Starke Hospital. It was the hope of officials that it would increase revenue and so far that’s the case. The increase will also help pay for the employees who staff the transfer unit.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Starke County EMS Department Obtains Grant Funds
Posted on February 12, 2019
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County EMS Department has secured some additional grant funds. Starke County EMS Director Travis Clary updated the Starke County Commissioners about the funds received last week.
“The Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund gave us $8,200 and that’s going to go toward the purchase of 800 MHz radios,” explained Clary. “We’re hoping to get five. They’re about $1,700 apiece. We’re very thankful for that. We couldn’t have done that without the Community Foundation here in Starke County. They helped us quite a bit with that.”
This grant announcement comes on the heels of the Knox VFW Post #748 donation of $15,000 that will help the EMS Department acquire a second Lucas Device. The life-saving equipment delivers automated chest compressions at the recommended depth and rate with no pauses.
Clary said that he’s continuing to look locally for grant funding including a Firehouse Subs grant for an ambulance cot and a First Source Bank grant.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County EMS Department has secured some additional grant funds. Starke County EMS Director Travis Clary updated the Starke County Commissioners about the funds received last week.
“The Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund gave us $8,200 and that’s going to go toward the purchase of 800 MHz radios,” explained Clary. “We’re hoping to get five. They’re about $1,700 apiece. We’re very thankful for that. We couldn’t have done that without the Community Foundation here in Starke County. They helped us quite a bit with that.”
This grant announcement comes on the heels of the Knox VFW Post #748 donation of $15,000 that will help the EMS Department acquire a second Lucas Device. The life-saving equipment delivers automated chest compressions at the recommended depth and rate with no pauses.
Clary said that he’s continuing to look locally for grant funding including a Firehouse Subs grant for an ambulance cot and a First Source Bank grant.
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