After seeing a sharp decline in revenue for Starke County Emergency Medical Services, Clerk Mary Lynn Ritchie informed the Starke County Commissioners this week that revenue is swinging in a positive direction.
Ritchie said the number of transfers from Starke Hospital was at 35 percent, which is a lot higher than numbers reported earlier this year. The transfers were either Basic Life Support or Advanced Life Support services. The transfers help sustain the EMS budget and are the main source of revenue for the department.
As a result of in the increased number of transfers, the revenue was able to catch up compared to 2017 to about a $22,000 difference.
Additionally, EMS Director Travis Clary said four ventilator transfers and five BiPAP transfers have been made. The BiPAP equipment is required by Starke Hospital officials in order to conduct for hospital transfers. A BiPAP includes a non-invasive oxygen mask that assists a patient with breathing. The commissioners previously approved the purchase of ventilator and BiPAP machine to meet the requirements.
