Starke County EMS will have a new ambulance in service this week. EMS Director Keith Emigh [[AMY]] told the county council the rig was delivered last Monday, but equipment still needed to be installed. He estimated that should be done within a week, and the truck would be on the road. Continue reading
The Starke County Commissioners have recommended a funding source for a new ambulance, and now it’s up to the county council to act. EMS Director Keith Emigh says the trucks in his fleet range from 1998 with a 1988 box to a problem-free 2013 rig with 58,000 miles. A 2003 ambulance with 167,000 miles and a 2009 truck with a history of mechanical problems round out the fleet.
The Starke County Council this week balked at a request from the county EMS department to allocate money they’ve received for services rendered to purchase a new ambulance. Business manager Mary Lynn Richie says they’ve collected a significant sum from federal Medicaid reimbursements that were not paid in prior years. Continue reading
Starke County EMS Director Keith Emigh hopes some recent hires will alleviate some of the staffing issues for the county ambulance service. He told the commissioners Monday evening he’s finalizing the hiring of two full-time paramedics. They’re expected to start July 1. Continue reading
The Starke County Commissioners have deferred a decision on the purchase of two used ambulances. EMS Director Keith Emigh told the commissioners Monday the diesel trucks are both 2005 models with 125,000 and 118,000 miles respectively. The $20,000 per truck price includes lights, which typically cost extra when purchasing any sort of new emergency vehicle. Continue reading
Starke County EMS Director Keith Emigh hopes hiring two full-time paramedics will alleviate some of the staffing concerns for the county ambulance service. The council on Monday approved his request to hire two people for full-time positions. Continue reading
Starke County EMS Director Keith Emigh is still looking for paramedics to cover shifts at the county’s three bases. His goal is to have paramedics on staff around the clock, seven days a week. Doing so allows the county to provide Advance Life Support service. Continue reading
The Starke County EMS ambulance based at Grovertown is down for repairs again. The county just spent $17,000 to have Jim Dobson Ford in Winamac install a new diesel motor in the 2009 Ford. EMS Director Keith Emigh told the county commissioners last night it was back on the road for two days when an oil leak was spotted. It was traced to a leaky valve cover and was repaired at no charge under the warranty. Continue reading
Starke County EMS has saved more money than originally anticipated through a change of oxygen vendors. They switched from South Bend-based Praxair to Plymouth-based American Gas and Welding for tank rentals and refills last April. American Gas and Welding charges considerably less for the same product. Their delivery costs are also lower. Continue reading
Starke County EMS Director Keith Emigh hopes to have the 2009 Ford ambulance based at Grovertown back on the road next week. The diesel rig is at Jim Dobson Ford in Winamac getting a new motor installed. Continue reading
Starke County EMS ambulances are now equipped to help the county’s four-legged law enforcement officers as well as civilian animals. The county ambulance service recently got a grant from Invisible Fence for free pet oxygen masks. Continue reading
Starke County EMS is still looking for EMTs and paramedics. Director Keith Emigh told the county commissioners this week his goal is to have all three bases adequately staffed in order to offer county-wide Advance Life Support Service around the clock, seven days a week. Continue reading
Starke County EMS needs new billing software to replace an obsolete program. However, the software package the state recommends costs quite a bit of money to purchase and maintain. Continue reading
Starke County EMS still needs a few part-time paramedics to ensure county-wide advance life support coverage around the clock. Director Keith Emigh told the county commissioners Monday the base in Knox is always fully staffed to meet ALS requirements, and the base in North Judson is between 95 and 98 percent of the time. He says a few more are needed to pull shifts in Grovertown. Continue reading
Starke County EMS Director Keith Emigh is still trying to hire enough paramedics to staff all three bases around the clock. He told the Starke County Commissioners Monday many paramedics pick up shifts at departments all over the northern third of the state. As a result he says coordinating schedules is challenging. Continue reading
Keith Emigh can remove the “interim” from his title as Starke County EMS Director. He’s been serving in that capacity since Paul Matthewson stepped down in July. Yesterday the commissioners offered Emigh the job on a permanent basis. He accepted their offer of the position for $40,000 per year with a $1,000 raise after his 90-day review. Emigh asked if he will be expected to run the service and also work a truck and was told that is his call to make as director. He was one of eight applicants interviewed for the position.
The Starke County Commissioners have changed the job criteria for the EMS director in order to expand the potential pool of applicants. Previously the county was only considering paramedics for the position. That has now been expanded to allow EMT’s to also apply for the opening. The job will pay between $38,000 and $45,000 per year, depending on experience, and the EMS director will have use of a county vehicle. Continue reading
