Divine Savior recognizes the invaluable contributions of its EMS employees.
Perhaps your exposure to emergency medical services is limited to the siren and flashing lights of an ambulance on the roadway. Or, maybe you've benefited first-hand from the skill and trained touch of an EMT in your hour of need. Regardless of your experience, those services and the people behind them are vital to the quality healthcare, and quality of life, we enjoy in south-central Wisconsin.
Divine Savior Healthcare applauds its staff of 42 EMS employees, and those throughout the country, in honor of National EMS Week, May 14-20. Divine Savior's EMS staff include emergency vehicle operations certification (EVOC) trained drivers and basic-, intermediate- and paramedic-level emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
"EMS Week is an opportunity to recognize our EMTs and paramedics for the challenges they face every day, whether at the scene of an accident or any other event that may place them in a hazardous environment," says Jan Bauman, Vice President of Patient Care Services at Divine Savior Healthcare.
"We need to honor their dedication to commitment in providing day-to-day lifesaving services to our community. Our EMS staff have demonstrated that extraordinary accomplishments can be achieved in spite of challenges faced in the field."
Range of Duties
"We're a unique group, serving both inpatient and pre-hospital patient needs," says Laura Ahola, EMS Director & Trauma Program Coordinator.
Divine Savior Healthcare's EMS employees respond to 911 calls in the City of Portage and the Townships of Caledonia, Lewiston, Pacific and Ft. Winnebago. In 2005, they responded to 1,805 calls. Two ambulance crews are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The primary crew is based in Divine Savior's Emergency Department, where they also work as Emergency Department Technicians performing a variety of tasks, from IV starts to patient assessments.
"Our primary ambulance runs at the paramedic level," Ahola says, "so each time that unit goes out on a call, the patient receives the highest level of EMS service available." Paramedic level is the highest pre-hospital medical service recognized by the State of Wisconsin.
The second ambulance crew is staffed as an on-call service in which EMTs on duty can take a call from their homes or work as long as they can respond to the hospital within 10 minutes.
Divine Savior's EMS Department also provides an inter-facility transfer service for critical patients who need to be transported by an ambulance from Divine Savior Healthcare to other hospitals.
In addition to medical services, Divine Savior's EMS team is active all year long in a variety of community events. EMTs and Paramedics often participate in presentations at area schools to educate students about injury prevention. You'll also see our ambulance and staff on standby for local high school football games and wrestling meets, at community festivals such as Portage Canal Days and the Columbia County Fair, and more.
In addition to its own EMS staff, Divine Savior Healthcare partners with several area EMS providers, including those in Arlington, Cambria, Lodi, Marquette County, Pardeeville, Poynette, Randolph and Rio, to provide service to Columbia and Marquette Counties.