The Starke County Commissioners want a better cost-benefit analysis before they agree to expand the advanced life support service offered by EMS.
Director Paul Matthewson wants to add a paramedic at the North Judson base. Doing so would allow the service to generate more money by transporting patients from IU Health Starke Hospital to other facilities. Right now the Knox EMS base is the only one with ALS coverage. Having a paramedic on duty at another base insures adequate county coverage if an ambulance is out of town.
Before proceeding, the commissioners want to make sure the service will pay for itself and generate additional money for the county. Council President Dave Pearman is going to work with Matthewson to firm up the financials between now and the June 2nd commissioners meeting. They’re also going to look into the feasibility of adding ALS to the Grovertown EMS base, too. Any additional employees would be part-time in order to keep costs in line.
