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It’s EMS Week all across America

Important changes are coming in Fort Dodge

In Webster County and all across America, teams of dedicated professionals stand ready to render medical assistance in emergencies. For some this is their career. For many others it is a volunteer undertaking that is performed in addition to their normal employment.

It’s impossible to overstate how important EMS personnel can be to just about any of us in a moment when knowledgeable help is needed fast. Honoring the men and women who handle this vital work is appropriate at all times, but especially so just now. This is Emergency Medical Services Week.

Since 1973, American presidents have issued proclamations calling on all of us to take note of this annual observance. Here are some of President Donald Trump’s words last year that underscore why this celebratory event is important:

“Through the hard work and dedication of these career and volunteer first responders, Americans receive the finest emergency medical treatment in their most vulnerable moments. We also honor those EMS providers who have made the ultimate sacrifice and given their lives in the line of duty. … The EMS Agenda 2050 project — a joint effort by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, and the EMS community – will help develop a vision for meeting our communities’ future emergency medical services needs and improve the health of all Americans.”

Planning for tomorrow makes sense. Right here in Fort Dodge, a major change is taking place that will make the already excellent ambulance response available in this community even better.

It has recently been decided that as of July 1 the Fort Dodge Fire Department will assume responsibility for the ambulance service now provided by UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center in a transition that hospital and city officials say will provide outstanding care in a financially sustainable way. Presently both TRMC and the Fire Department respond to ambulance calls. They collaborate well and both do a superb job but having a single entity handle this important service will be more efficient.

This decision resulted from dialogue between city and medical center officials and followed a consulting firm’s study in 2017 that made recommendations for strengthening the way ambulance service was provided in our community.

“Doing what is best for the community has and continues to be our priority,” Mike Dewerff, president and chief executive officer of UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge, told The Messenger last week. “This study illustrated the importance of the shared governance and while we take pride in our EMS services we provided over the decades, we know this transition is ultimately best for the community.”

The Messenger strongly agrees with the planned change. We can’t think of a better time than EMS Week to celebrate not only the contributions of EMS professionals but also to applaud an important step forward in ensuring that emergency responses in our community will be both absolutely first-rate and provided as cost-effectively as possible.

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