PCAD preparing to take over ambulance services
Sept. 21--The Pettis County Ambulance District has a little more than a week to go before taking over ambulance services, and on Friday officials spent most of the day taking stock and loading up.
"We've got about $200,000 worth of equipment and supplies that need to be divided up and put into each of our five ambulances so we have quite a bit of work to do," said PCAD Administrator Mike Gardner. "But it's exciting. We've been talking and preparing for this for months so it's great to finally see everything together."
After voters approved an April 2012 half-cent sales tax measure to fund the district, PCAD will take over for American Paramedical Service Inc. at midnight on Sept. 30 and will serve all of Pettis County except those areas already served by the Cole Camp, Sweet Springs and Windsor ambulance districts. The PCAD Board of Directors has spent the last year and a half working to create the district from scratch, the last six months with the help of Gardner, who was hired Jan. 1.
"I think we were really lucky to get Mike, especially because he came in with so much experience heading up the Warsaw Ambulance District," said PCAD Board Chair Greg Nehring. "It's a great feeling, to see the ambulances here. I'm looking forward to actually being operational and moving ahead."
On Friday, Gardner and some PCAD crew members were outfitting the district's ambulances with all the medical and loose equipment that will be needed. Two of the ambulances are slightly bigger and will be used mostly for 911 calls, Gardner said.
"All of our ambulances are outfitted for emergencies, they all have the same equipment but for the two that are just a little bit bigger we'll use them for 911," he said. "The extra room is important if you've got a paramedic and EMT and patient all in there. The other two will probably be used primarily for transfers."
A fifth ambulance will also be available, with Gardner noting that both he and his training coordinator are EMT-certified, so if there was an emergency situation, he could take over a route. The ambulances are outfitted with the latest in medical software technology -- EMTs will use iPads to record medical data -- and even the vehicles themselves are technologically advanced.
"We have the Acetech System which will allow us to gather data from the ambulance," Gardner said. "Everything from when there's some maintenance trouble to us being able to view, in real time, when the lights (and sirens) are on. If there's a problem with the engine I can even receive a text message telling me what's going on. It's a really great tool for us to have because it'll save us money on maintenance costs in the long run."
The PCAD will make approximately 5,000 calls a year, according to data from APSi, so having upgraded technology and safety measures in place are key, Gardner said.
"We're looking at a pretty steady call load to what APSi was doing, of course it could always increase," he said. "When that first call comes in at midnight, Sept. 30, we'll be ready for it."
For the time being, the PCAD will be based out of the Missouri State Fair Volunteer Fire Department building on the fairgrounds, which it is leasing for $2,300 a month until its headquarters at the old Butternut Building downtown is renovated. This week the board approved a $375,000 bid to contract with Warrensburg-based Reasbeck Construction Inc. for improvements to the building.
"We're going to take out the existing layout and add restrooms, bunk rooms, four secured offices and HVAC, which is the most important aspect because the ambulances have to be kept at a certain temperature to maintain its contents," Nehring said. "At the very least we'll be in that building for two years but it will likely be longer."
Nehring said board members looked at available properties in town and decided putting money into the Butternut building was the most financially responsible move, even though it's a temporary measure until an official PCAD headquarters could be built.
"Everything we looked at we would have had to sink a lot of money into turning it into what we needed," he said. "And realistically, we'll probably be in the Butternut building for a few years."
PCAD Board Vice Chair Dave Clippert said he was glad to see some tangible results for the district.
"We've been talking about (forming a district) since 2009 and there were a few people who told me those talks really began here and there in the 1980s," he said. "So after a lot of years, it's great to see the ambulances, the equipment and the employees. (The board) sits in meetings and approves the purchase of everything, but it's different when you actually see it."
Gardner said he and his crews were looking forward to taking over services.
"I'll be going on that first call after midnight, Sept. 30. You can count on it," he said with a laugh. "I'm just ready to get going and start serving Pettis County."
Copyright 2013 - The Sedalia Democrat, Sedalia, Mo.
