Starke County Commissioners Set Rate for Dedicated Ambulance Service

 
 

Organizers of events like this weekend’s high school rodeo in Grovertown can pay the county to have a dedicated ambulance at their event the entire time. The Starke County Commissioners Monday approved a $500 charge to cover the cost of the truck and personnel to staff it. That same option is available to any event or organization that would like to ensure medical personnel are on site at all times.

Should an injury occur that requires a patient be transported, an ambulance from the nearest EMS base can handle the call. The county will continue to provide ambulance service as a courtesy for events like the Starke County 4-H Fair and various local festivals if the organizers agree the crew can leave should they get an emergency call.

Starke County EMS was recently recertified by the state for another two years. That process involves the medical director of the service and officials from IU Health Starke Hospital and was completed two months ahead of schedule. Director Keith Emigh is still looking to hire a few additional paramedics to meet the goal of full-time EMS coverage at all three bases.

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