Progress Seen in Addressing Status Zero Ambulance Calls

Progress was reported over the past month in addressing Status Zero ambulance calls in Effingham County.

The County Board's Ambulance Oversight Committee Tuesday heard there were 21 status zero situations...situations where there was no ambulance immediately available...but 911 System Administrator Tina Daniels reported that 20 of the calls were addressed by Abbott EMS headquarters in St. Louis and another rig was dispatched. An agreement was reached last month for Abbott to fill the gaps when they didn't have a rig available locally. 

In the 21st status zero case, Daniels said "it wasn't very long" before things were rectified. It was also reported that problems have lessened since a fifth rig has been added by Abbott.

Heather Morse, Regional Director for Global Medical Response, Abbott's affiliate, said they are developing a report on response time. That way, there will be a record of not only how long it takes to find someone to respond to a call, but how long it takes the rig to reach the scene and begin treatment. Committee member Ron Will said, "We want to keep 'the golden hour' in the forefront, when care actually begins."

Jeff Odenthal of Abbott reported that 10 people have been hired as EMT trainees through their "Earn While You Learn" program, where Abbott will pay for the education of the students through Lake Land College. Odenthal said more than 50 people applied for the program. Some in the St. Louis area who applied were directed for training in that area.

Committee members decided to continue meeting on a monthly basis for at least the next six months. Meetings had been held quarterly recently.