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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The EMS Association of North Dakota recently held a regional meeting in Jamestown and discussed the growing severity of rural service.

Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist attended the meeting.

Bergquist stated that from a 911 perspective, they are required by law to send emergency services to a 911 call. If the call comes from a rural area without EMS service, they will have to send the closest available unit. Bergquist pointed out that it is almost getting to a point where the fastest way to get service to a rural area would be to just send a unit out of Bismarck.

Logan Caldwell is the Paramedic Program Director for the Emergency Training Associates. He is also a Paramedic with Ringdahl Ambulance Services in Jamestown. He says that EMS is expected to have volunteers, but keep increasing education requirements.

“Many volunteers are aging out and services can not afford to hire EMT’s and paramedics. Access to an ambulance is not a right and if people continue to ignore the EMS shortage and neglect to help fund their local services, eventually they will call 911 and no one will show up.” He stated.

Caldwell also pointed out that 3 ambulance services in the state closed their doors last year. Most departments rely on state grants for funding, but Caldwell says that is not realistic.

“Depending on state grants to fund ambulance services is unrealistic. Services must be given the resources to hire and retain these Healthcare employees locally or they will lose the service all together.” Caldwell stated.

Financing EMS service through the state and counties was discussed.

Bergquist says it would become pretty costly to take that route.