BEDFORD – Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchauer told the commissioners Tuesday morning the new ambulance service is making strides to provide better service for Lawrence County residents.
IU Health is stepping up to provide needed ambulance coverage in Lawrence County. A new contract was signed today after the corporation requested minor changes to the verbiage. IU Lifeline officials say they will make every effort to be fully staffed by April 1.
“We are staying on top of this,” Luchauer said.
Commissioner Dustin Gabhart agreed, “Everyone has gone above and beyond to make this happen.”
IU Health will station three 911 ambulances and one squad or chase vehicle in Lawrence County beginning April 1, 2023. These units will be stationed at Dunn Plaza. The county will provide and pay for the building and dorms for those manning the medical units.
These three ambulance services will not leave Lawrence County for emergency response calls. They will only leave Lawrence County to transport a critical patient from an accident or incident scene to the closest appropriate care facility.
IU will staff an ambulance for the hospital’s inter-facility transports. They have hired Heartland Ambulance Service to make those transports.
Lawrence County Central Dispatch will be responsible for dispatching ambulances. The county will also provide portable radios and mobile data terminals for the ambulances and squad.
The county agrees to pay IU Health a stipend of $300,000 to cover ambulance service from April 1, 2023, through December 21, 2023. The annual stipend will increase in 2024, 2025, and 2026 to $400,000. All payments will be made bi-annually on July 30th and December 31.
The county will pay for this contract with American Rescue Plan Funds. Lawrence County received $4.4 million in ARP Funds.
On January 1, 2023, because of staffing issues, IU provided two 911 ambulances and one squad.
IU is in the process of hiring 16 EMTs and four or five paramedics to fill their contractual obligation and those of the hospital. Due to those staffing issues, IU cut the cost of ambulance coverage by $100,000.
Patricia Martinez, of IU Health, said 21 students are registered to start an EMT class on January 19th. IU will pay those who attend the classes. Students who complete the class will be offered a position with the IU LifeLine ambulance service.
“This is is a six-week class,” she added. “Hopefully they will all pass and be able to fill the needed open positions.”
The newly formed Lawrence County Fire Territory which is made up of Shawswick and Guthrie townships is also providing fire protection and an ambulance service in Lawrence County.
Chief Bob Brown said the station on Sunny Acres Drive is now manned around the clock with four full-time firefighters, and an emergency medical responder or EMT.
