Powerful message
Sometimes the best way to measure a community’s confidence in something new is to look at who shows up.
That was certainly the case last week as EMS Unlimited officially began providing ambulance service in Aurora and Hamilton County. More than 100 people gathered at the company’s grand opening, but perhaps the most significant message wasn’t delivered by those who spoke. It was parked outside.
Emergency vehicles from Aurora and rural fire departments throughout Hamilton County created an impressive show of support for EMS Unlimited. Departments from Hampton, Giltner, Hordville, Marquette and Phillips brought trucks and personnel, while the Aurora Fire Department added its largest truck to the lineup.
That was more than a photo opportunity. It was a statement.
For rural departments, EMS is not an abstract issue. Their volunteer firefighters are often among the first responders to medical calls, sometimes spending 15 to 20 minutes or more with a patient waiting for an ambulance capable of providing advanced life support. That makes the relationship between local fire departments and the ambulance provider vitally important.
Hampton Fire Chief Dane Schafer said rural departments wanted EMS Unlimited to know they are there to support the company, just as they expect ambulance crews to have their backs when they arrive at an emergency. That kind of partnership is exactly what Hamilton County needs.
It is encouraging that EMS Unlimited appears to understand that from the beginning. Founder and CEO Ebin Latrimurti specifically thanked the rural departments for showing up, while Program Director Rebekah Osman spoke about her own roots in a small community served by volunteers and her enthusiasm for building relationships and expanding training with rural departments.
Those aren’t just the right words. They are the right priorities.
After nearly two years of debate over how Aurora could continue providing quality ambulance service without placing an ever-increasing burden on taxpayers, EMS Unlimited now has the opportunity to prove its approach can work.
So far, the company is saying and doing many of the things we should want to see. It is building relationships, emphasizing training and cooperation, and thinking practically about how to deliver service efficiently.
One example is the smaller EMS van displayed at the grand opening. Not every medical transport requires a full-size ambulance. A smaller, less expensive vehicle could handle appropriate transfers while keeping a full-size ambulance available for emergency calls. Those kinds of practical decisions could benefit both the provider and the community.
Let’s hope EMS Unlimited continues building those partnerships, doing the right things and earning the trust that has been placed in it.
The debate can stay in the rearview mirror. The work of providing excellent EMS care starts now.
-- Kurt Johnson