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Park Rapids ambulance reports steady response times; Sanford merger under regulatory review
Summary
Park Rapids ambulance reported ALS staffing 73% of the time, billed about 361 patients in the first quarter, and reported response times to red-light/siren calls under 10 minutes 60% of the time. Staff said a proposed Sanford merger is under regulatory review and could take 2–6 months for approval.
A representative from Park Rapids ambulance (identified in the meeting as Kevin) presented the service’s first-quarter report. He said Advanced Life Support (ALS) crews staffed 73% of the time and Basic Life Support (BLS) crews 27% of the time, noting that three paramedics were on leave during the quarter.
Kevin said the service billed approximately 361 patients in the quarter (down from 392 in the comparable period last year) and that the annual budget anticipates 1,634 transports. For high-acuity (red lights and sirens) calls, he reported arrival times of under 10 minutes in 60% of calls, under 20 minutes in 87% and under 30 minutes in 90%.
He described an autism outreach program in partnership with CHI Hospital and answered commissioners’ questions about regional mutual aid. Kevin also discussed a proposed Sanford merger of regional health services that is undergoing regulatory review; he said the earliest changes could occur would be in August if approvals proceed "completely smoothly," but the process could take longer.
Kevin provided the public website sanford-north.org for further information about the merger.
