Critical Access Hospitals

The North Dakota EMS Association in partnership with the ND Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program is hosting a series of four meetings across the state this summer bringing Critical Access Hospitals and EMS providers together to discuss area healthcare needs, building relationships and strengthening communication.  The meetings are arranged and facilitated by the Association’s Regional Advisors Jim DeMell and Lynn Hartman, Association President, Jim Restemayer, and Tom Nehring and Kelli Sears from the Division of EMS Systems have also attended the meetings.

Discussion topics include EMS Transport Plans, time critical diagnosis transports, interfacility medical and mental health transfers, STEMI-activation protocols, LUCAS device use, medical direction and quality improvement measures, upcoming Association education opportunities, system development and collaboration, hand-off reports and any other issues at the local or state level.

The next two meetings will be held:

August 24th- Grand Forks SIM ND (Task Training room, E129) 6 PM

August 25th- MinotHealth Center East (20 Burdick Express Way, NE Elevator to the 6th Floor)

The first meeting was held at West River Health Services in Hettinger with representation from that hospital, Southwest Healthcare in Bowman, Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin and EMS providers from six area ambulance services.  The second meeting was held at St. Aloisius Medical Center in Harvey.  Leaders of the hospital and five area ambulance services attended.

As healthcare faces many challenges and changes, it is vital that medical providers work together, have a better understanding of each other’s unique situations and have a constructive way to resolve issues. The ND EMS Association needs to hear from EMS providers.  We need to hear your ideas, hear about your problems, and hear your success stories.  You may have found a solution to an issue that another service is struggling with.  Your voices will shape the future of EMS in North Dakota

The Association would like to thank the hosting hospitals and all the EMS providers who have attended these meetings and for the very important information and opinions you have shared.