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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Regional EMS service study moves forward

Jodi Summit
Posted 7/13/22

GREENWOOD TWP- Greenwood Township is putting itself in the driver’s seat as it approved spending approximately $55,000 for a study on options for the feasibility of developing a region-wide …

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Regional EMS service study moves forward

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GREENWOOD TWP- Greenwood Township is putting itself in the driver’s seat as it approved spending approximately $55,000 for a study on options for the feasibility of developing a region-wide ambulance service. The cost includes $48,575 for consulting services and up to $6,900 in travel expenses.
The board voted, unanimously, at their July 12 meeting, to hire McGrath Consulting Group, Inc., to conduct a study that would include a review of area providers from Tower, Ely, Cook, and Virginia. McGrath is based in Illinois.
This proposal was one of several received, and while not the least expensive option, the firm has done work on fire and EMS issues on the Iron Range, and its lead consultant, Dr. Tim McGrath has 33 years of experience in fire and EMS, including work as a volunteer firefighter, development of paramedic training programs, working on consolidation of emergency services, and even assisting in the creation of a new fire department.
The study would seek to answer the question of whether Greenwood and the surrounding areas can improve EMS through greater cooperative efforts, what level of EMS is most appropriate and cost-effective within the service area, and what is the most cost-effective means of providing ALS (paramedic) services. The study is expected to take at least five months.
Supervisor Mike Ralston said the township has been talking with the IRRR about help with funding the study, as well as with St. Louis County. “But we need to prepare to pay for the full amount,” he said.
Greenwood does not have any management oversight of EMS services, and under state law the township is part of the Tower Area Ambulance Service area, which includes Tower, Eagles Nest, Breitung, Kugler, Vermilion Lake, and Greenwood townships.
“We want to maximize service in a fiscally responsible manner,” said Greenwood resident Lee Peterson, who has pushed for the study outside of any efforts by the Tower Ambulance Commission, which is in the process of starting its own locally-based study of service options. Greenwood has, so far, opted not to be part of that process.
Peterson said the TAC is talking about forming a joint powers arrangement, which could include a taxing mechanism.
“Once you are in, there is no doorknob to get out,” Peterson said. “We need to be extra careful on how this goes.”
Supervisor Barb Lofquist said she didn’t think the township should separate itself from the work that TAC is starting to do.
Peterson said the township is going to have to accept that an ambulance service is going to cost money.
“The days of volunteers who live in the ambulance are gone,” he said.
Peterson said he didn’t want to see the township being one vote out of six on a local joint powers board, because Greenwood has the largest population and property values.
“I am tired of the tail wagging the dog,” Peterson said.
The question of how a regionally-based EMS service would be funded is still an open question, and would also require some tax-based assistance. State law does allow for the formation of ambulance service districts with taxing authority.
Will EMS services participate?
Peterson said he hopes the surrounding communities will participate in the study, although Greenwood has not formally asked for the cooperation of any of the surrounding EMS services.
“Our aim is for the best possible care for our patients,” Peterson said.
The McGrath study would include tours and observations, stakeholder interviews, and data analysis.
“Our firm does not utilize a cut-and-paste approach,” they wrote. “Rather we take the time needed to learn the culture of the service area.”
Stakeholder interviews would include township and city officials, EMS department leadership and members, communication centers, and other identified stakeholders. Such interviews would be confidential. The objectives of the study of each service provider would include gaining an understanding of the organization’s background, goals, and expectations for the project.
The study would also include:
• a general overview of EMS services.
• Current and potential future changes in population and demographics.
• Implications of current policies and agreements.
• Assessing current overall EMS organizations and operations for efficiency and effectiveness.
• Identifying and analyzing EMS providers in the area and their role in EMS service delivery.
• Identifying key stakeholders to ensure their input.
• Trends in emergency and non-emergency demands.
• Analysis of current emergency incidents, response times, and simultaneous call data.
It will also look at the need for ALS services to be located within the regional service area by reviewing the current service and identifying appropriate data for making decisions in the future regarding ALS.
The study will also include looking at the leadership structure of area EMS providers, identifying appropriate national, state, and local service benchmarks for service, and identifying the most prudent and cost-effective staffing methods and distribution of personnel for ALS level service. In addition, the study will look at facilities, equipment, dispatch practices, and training.
The objective of the study will be greater shared services, looking at the challenges associated with regionalization.