The Pulaski County Commissioners have chosen the more expensive option for repairing one of the EMS Department’s ambulances. Rather than spending less than $13,000 just to fix the head gaskets, they approved EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo’s recommendation to replace the entire engine for about $20,000.
Continue readingAnother Pulaski County EMS paramedic will be allowed keep her seniority from a previous full-time tenure, but whether that becomes an official part of the county’s policies remains to be seen. EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo told the county council last week that the paramedic dropped down to part-time for about a month but now wants to go back to full-time.
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Starke County Emergency Medical Services may soon be asking for pay raises. EMS Director Travis Clary told the county commissioners last week that Starke County has one of the lowest-paying EMS services in the area, and some staff members are leaving for better pay.
Continue readingPulaski County is easing its new restrictions on ambulance transfers, following discussions with hospital officials. Earlier this month, the county commissioners voted to reduce the transfer radius from 100 to 65 miles, to extend the life of the county’s ambulances. But that raised concern from doctors, since that puts the major trauma centers out of reach.
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The Pulaski County Commissioners will consider a job description for an EMS driver this morning. EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo has been exploring a number of options to keep ambulances running amid a shortage of paramedics and EMTs.
Continue readingPulaski County EMS is no longer taking hospital transfers to Fort Wayne or Indianapolis. The county commissioners voted last week to reduce the transfer radius from 100 miles to 65.
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A longtime Pulaski County EMS employee is being recognized for her years of service. Stephanie Foust was presented with a plaque by EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo during Monday’s county council meeting. “I’d like to publicly thank you for 10 years of service with Pulaski County EMS,” DeLorenzo said, “and I hope I have 10 more.”
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A decision on whether to proceed with the Pulaski County Justice Center renovation and expansion is expected from the county council and commissioners tonight.
Continue readingPulaski County EMS staff may have to wait a bit longer for a pay raise, after county officials failed to put the proposed salary matrix amendments into writing by Monday’s county council meeting. Last month, the council voted to take up EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo’s proposed wage restructuring.
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The Pulaski County Council is expected to consider wage issues at a number of county departments tonight. Sheriff Jeff Richwine told the county commissioners last week that his department trails many neighboring counties when it comes to pay rates, while the jail remains slightly under-staffed. He’s expected to continue that discussion with the county council tonight.
Continue readingThe Pulaski County Commissioners are still interested in reimbursing EMS employees for paramedic training, but not in waiving ambulance bills for county employees and volunteer firefighters. Those were part of a list of strategies suggested by EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo to address staffing shortages.
Continue readingThe Pulaski County Commissioners will continue discussing several proposed changes at the EMS Department this morning. EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo has suggested reinstating on-call pay, reimbursing employees for the cost of paramedic training, and waiving ambulance fees for county employees and volunteer firefighters.
Continue readingPulaski County Emergency Medical Services is looking at a wage restructuring to help with staff retention. EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo told the county council Monday that two out of every three days, there’s only one paramedic-staffed ambulance in service at a time.
Continue readingPulaski County officials will continue discussing the future of Arens Field tonight. The county commissioners recently agreed to hire Daryn Wilder as airport manager, even though some county officials had expressed interest in privatizing the airport. Board of Aviation Commissioners President Jeremy Wegner is expected to weigh in on Bluebird Ag’s interest in buying or leasing the airport during tonight’s joint county council and commissioners meeting.
Continue readingPulaski County EMS may allow non-certified staff to work on its ambulances. That’s one of a few ideas EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo presented to the county commissioners Monday to address the department’s staffing shortages.
Continue readingPulaski County may have to offer its EMS staff more money or reduce to a basic service. Those were the options EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo gave the county council earlier this month. He said he hasn’t been able to fill two open full-time positions, as anyone who expresses interest finds a better-paying job elsewhere. If the county can’t have a paramedic on duty at all times, he said it may have to go to a basic service, which several council members opposed.
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Pulaski County will be paying more for workers’ compensation insurance next year, but will no longer have to use an assigned risk pool.
Continue readingAs the COVID-19 pandemic continues, state and local officials are making sure they have access to morgue space. Pulaski County Coroner Jon Frain told the county council and commissioners Monday that the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and neighboring counties have asked if they could rent space in Pulaski County’s morgue, if necessary.
Continue readingA high turnover rate among Pulaski County Emergency Medical Services staff is prompting EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo to consider some policy changes. He told the county commissioners Monday that while the county may not be able to keep up with neighboring services’ pay rates, it may be able to make the job a little easier during the overnight hours.
Continue readingThe Pulaski County Council recently completed the final funding arrangements for the expansion of the Winamac ambulance garage. During last month’s regular meeting, council members agreed to transfer more than $4,800 from Emergency Medical Services’ Patient Care Supplies line item to Building Repair.
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