Latest news with #JamestownAreaAmbulance
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Stutsman County auditor says special election won't be pursued for ambulance district
Apr. 3—JAMESTOWN — Jamestown Area Ambulance will not push for a special election to create an ambulance district to help with funding, according to Jessica Alonge, Stutsman County auditor/chief operating officer. Alonge told the Stutsman County Commission on Tuesday, April 1, that Jamestown Area Ambulance will continue to educate the public on its issues. She said Jamestown Area Ambulance could revisit the creation of an ambulance district during the next election cycle. Jamestown Area Ambulance is facing issues with staffing and reimbursement prices for ambulance transports. The cost of operating an ambulance service has increased by 66% over the last decade while reimbursement prices for the transports have increased 12%, The Jamestown Sun reported in March. At an emergency medical service town hall in March, community leaders discussed the possibility of creating an ambulance district to help with funding. The creation of an ambulance district would require voter approval. The county commission unanimously approved extending the completion date to July 2025 for a feasibility study on how to move water from basins in western Stutsman County and Crystal Springs Lake. Jerry Bergquist, commission chairman, said the study was expected to be complete in March. Mike Gunsch, senior project manager with Houston Engineering, said his staff has to find more information for the feasibility study. The feasibility study will show the benefits of removing excess waters, how much of the 250-square-mile watershed is contributing to flooding, regulatory issues, alternative options to remove water and the cost to remove the excess water. The study will also help determine what the cost is to move water in different directions. The county is looking to move water to the west to the Missouri River, north to Wells County where Pipestem Creek and the James River originate, or east from Crystal Lakes toward Pipestem Creek and James River. Gunsch said five different routes to move the water have been looked at. He added that he will request additional funding for the study at the next commission meeting on April 15. He said additional funding will need to be requested from the State Water Commission. Gunsch said an additional $40,000 would be needed and the local share would be about $20,000. The county commission unanimously approved supporting a request from the Stutsman County Fair Association to begin the necessary steps to transfer a county parcel to the association. Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser said the Stutsman County Fair Association and the county each got a parcel in 1959 when the fair moved from downtown Jamestown to the current fairgrounds. He said one parcel was given to the association and the other was given to the county, which was then given to the association for the Stutsman County Fair. Alonge said the county paid $4,250 to for the property. Kaiser said past commissioners have tried to remove the county's name off the parcel and transferred to the association because of liability reasons. Alonge said the parcel cannot be sold, leased or disposed of without the consent of the secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior. Kaiser said approval is needed by the county commission to allow the Stutsman County Fair Board to contact the Bureau of Reclamation to remove Stutsman County's name from the parcel. In other business, the county commission unanimously approved a letter of support for the 70th anniversary of the debut of "The Lawrence Welk Show." Scott Wheeler said he is trying to raise awareness about North Dakota native Lawrence Welk's contributions to music and entertainment. Wheeler said he is looking to request a proclamation from Gov. Kelly Armstrong honoring Welk.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Jamestown Area Ambulance facing staffing, reimbursement issues
Mar. 6—JAMESTOWN — Jamestown Area Ambulance is facing issues with staffing and reimbursement prices for ambulance transports, according to Ken Krupich, general manager for Ringdahl EMS. "We've got a reimbursement issue, which means we have a revenue issue, which means we have an employee issue," said Andrew Berkey, operations manager for Jamestown Area Ambulance. The cost of operating an ambulance service has increased by 66% over the last decade, according to Adam Parker with Werfel, Moore & Kelly Law Group. "I believe reimbursement over that same period has increased 12%," said Parker, who advocates for ambulance services across the state. Parker said insurance reimbursement rates have not grown in the ambulance industry. He said a federal study that was recently completed shows the average cost of an ambulance transport is about $2,670. The average reimbursement for that was about $1,140. "We only get paid for transport in most scenarios," he said. "So if we respond to somebody who called 911 and we don't transport them, many insurance providers don't reimburse for that call." Parker said the federal government sets the Medicare rates and commercial insurers set the reimbursement rates. Community leaders attended an emergency medical services town hall at Jamestown Area Ambulance on Tuesday, March 4. The informational meeting was held to inform the community about any changes that could occur in the operation of Jamestown Area Ambulance. "The purpose of today is to talk about where we currently are as an ambulance service, some of the challenges that we faced over the last few years that continue to deliver a little bit more of a hardship and complication into how we run our operation, and then to discuss with people who are stakeholders in that health care community on what the path forward is, what options do we have on the table, and how do they impact our communities, our services and our health care partners," Berkey said. Krupich said Jamestown Area Ambulance is not in a crisis. Ringdahl EMS operates Jamestown Area Ambulance. "We are not closing. We're not making immediate changes," he said. "However, a lot of ambulance services across the state, across the nation and within our service area in Casselton, Lisbon, Fergus Falls (Minnesota), Pelican Rapids (Minnesota), have had to make those changes. What we're trying to do ... is get you guys around the table before we have to make changes or if we have to make changes so that we can work together as a community ... ." Options to resolve the financial and staffing issues at Jamestown Area Ambulance included creating an ambulance district, which requires voter approval, and transitioning its license status from advanced life support to basic life support. An advanced life support ambulance requires a paramedic on the first ambulance when responding to a call for service. A basic life support ambulance only requires emergency medical technicians. "What that does for us is takes that requirement (to have a paramedic) away that the very first ambulance out the door has to happen, and ... it is that we're no longer held to that," he said, referring to transitioning Jamestown Area Ambulance's license status from advanced life support to basic life support. "If that were a direction we were to go, the objective remains the same: Get as many medics on the schedule as you absolutely can, put as many of them in the trucks as you can, but this gives us more freedom and flexibility to use the advanced life support resource the way we want to use it." He said Jamestown Area Ambulance is in a position to hire three paramedics. "We take them in a heartbeat, but they're just not there," he said. Jamestown Area Ambulance increased wages 7% for paramedics and 12.5% for emergency medical technicians, Berkey said. "If you look at the services in our area that are similar size, similar volume, it's safe to say we are competitive with them and trying to be competitive with our bigger neighbors in Fargo and Bismarck," he said. Berkey said accrual rates for paid time off were adjusted. "(We're) just trying to do things that make Jamestown ambulance look as attractive as it possibly can to outside employees in hopes that we can start recruiting more people to our community," he said. He said Jamestown Area Ambulance invested $45,000 to send its own emergency medical technicians to paramedic school. "That's worked very well for us," he said. Berkey said Jamestown Area Ambulance also implemented a response protocol in January 2024 that allows it to use paramedic resources in a more flexible way. He said state law currently requires a paramedic to be on the first ambulance that responds to a call for service. "So now a paramedic can go out in the quick response unit, and if another call comes out that is deemed more advanced life support, they can move around because they're not tied to that truck," he said. "It's been very successful for us, and honestly, really vital for us to continue to do what we're doing." Berkey said it's now routine for Jamestown Area Ambulance to have one advanced life support ambulance and a basic life support ambulance. "That just fluctuates based on who we were able to get on the schedule and how we're sitting for that day," he said. Jamestown Area Ambulance is continuing its recruiting efforts through social media, Indeed, other platforms and internal emergency medical technician courses. Berkey said other recruiting efforts include a sign-on bonus and supporting employees in furthering their education or their license. Community leaders discussed the possibility of creating an ambulance district to help with funding. The creation of an ambulance district would require voter approval. "One avenue that addresses some issues is ambulance districts," Parker said. He said an ambulance district is a political subdivision that follows the response boundaries of an ambulance service. "So it can cover multiple counties," he said. An ambulance district would have its own elected board that is responsible for ensuring that service is provided and adequate, Parker said. He said the district would then have the ability to levy tax dollars to support the ambulance service. "It would support payroll to attract and retain the best EMS professionals," he said. The tax dollars could also be used to help with operational costs. Parker said a new ambulance costs around $250,000, which doesn't include the equipment inside it. "Probably 10 years ago or 15 years ago, a new ambulance was probably about $110,000," Parker said. "When we look at the total cost increase over the last several years, it's just very difficult to sustain ambulance operations." Stutsman County Commissioner Jerry Bergquist said a lot of work has to be done to get an ambulance district approved by voters. He said the community knows it needs Jamestown Area Ambulance's service. "If you want my recommendation, I really would like to see you guys move forward with that," he said. The Barnes County Ambulance Service got the Barnes County Commission on board with the idea of creating an ambulance district so they can educate the public to get voter approval, said Andrea Suhr, an administrator with Barnes County Ambulance Service. "They were like a great liaison for us," she said
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Yahoo
Jamestown man injured in Friday crash in LaMoure County
Feb. 22—JAMESTOWN — A 38-year-old Jamestown man was injured Friday, Feb. 21, when the Ford Bronco he was driving struck a Peterbilt semi-truck, according to the North Dakota Highway Patrol. The crash occurred at about 5:53 p.m. Friday in LaMoure County at the intersection of Highway 281 and County Road 35, the patrol said in a news release. The patrol said the Ford Bronco was eastbound on the county road and failed to stop at a stop sign, resulting in a T-bone collision with the Peterbilt, which was northbound on Highway 281. The patrol said the 38-year-old Jamestown driver of the Ford Bronco sustained serious injuries in the crash. The 47-year-old Jamestown man who was driving the Peterbilt semi-truck was not injured. Both drivers were wearing seat belts, the patrol said. Names were not immediately released. Also responding were the LaMoure County sheriff, Jamestown Area Ambulance and a local fire department, the patrol said. This crash remains under investigation by the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Yahoo
UPDATED: Jamestown Fire Department assists law enforcement after vehicle runs into garage
Feb. 7—JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown Fire Department assisted law enforcement on Friday, Feb. 7, after a vehicle ran into a garage in northeast Jamestown, according to Lt. Sheldon Mohr. A 57-year-old Jamestown man was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado northbound on the 1600 block of 10th Avenue Northeast at about 8:20 a.m. Friday with an 85-year-old Jamestown man as a passenger, said Maj. Justin Blinsky, assistant chief of police with the Jamestown Police Department. Blinsky said the driver had a medical episode and lost control of the vehicle. He said the vehicle jumped the curb, went through the private driveway and struck a garage on the 1600 block of 10th Avenue Northeast. The Jamestown Area Ambulance rendered medical aid to the 57-year-old Jamestown man before he was transported to the Jamestown Regional Medical Center. Upon arrival, the Jamestown Police Department requested assistance from the Jamestown Fire Department to check the structural stability of the garage, Blinsky said. Four units and 19 firefighters responded to 1610 10th Ave. NE at about 8:35 a.m. Mohr said the Jamestown Fire Department checked the structural stability of the garage before the vehicle was moved. He said no firefighters were injured. Firefighters were on scene for about 20 minutes.
