City Council Approves Emergency Medical Service Contract with Southwest Health

PLATTEVILLE, WI (June 1, 2015) – The City of Platteville Common Council voted (5 to 2) at the May 26th meeting to approve a 20 year contract for Emergency Medical Services through Southwest Health of Platteville.  The city’s endorsement is the first step in a multi-phase process to sanction the upgrade.  In addition to the city, Platteville EMS currently provides service to all or part of the townships of Platteville, Belmont, Elk Grove, Ellenboro, Harrison, Lima and Smelser.  These townships will be voting on the agreement separately, and as stated in the contract, Platteville Township’s approval will be necessary to move forward.

At the December 11, 2012 Council Meeting, the City Manager and EMS Administrator were directed to begin discussions with Southwest Health to explore the possibility of their assuming responsibility for providing a high level of emergency services and transport to the residents of the current Platteville EMS District.  Since then, there have been several meetings involving the former City Manager, EMS Administrator, Council President, Council Pro-Tem, City Attorney, Southwest Health President/CEO, Southwest Health Vice President of Patient Services, and others.  Through this process, the City Council and the Area Ambulance Committee, in addition to other township representatives met in closed sessions to discuss, review, and revise the agreement.

Common Council President Eileen Nickels stated “Increased call volume, new facility and ambulance costs, and providing the best care possible were key reasons city officials initiated the discussions.”  The city had included $500,000 in the Capital Improvement Plan for a new EMS Facility, however current construction costs were estimated at approximately $1.5 million.  In the near future, the city and townships would be forced to research and alter the EMS staffing model and add more expense to the district budget in order to maintain quality services.

After the effective date of the agreement, Southwest Health will assume ownership of and commence operation of the ambulance service and assets currently provided by the city.  They will develop plans for the construction of a new ambulance facility adjacent to its hospital campus, with a completion date no later than December 31, 2016.  The cost of the agreement for the city and seven townships is $100,000 in 2016, up to $150,000 in 2017, and from $130,000 to $150,000 per year between 2018 and 2024.  Annual reimbursement could increase annually by the Consumer Price Index from 2025 to 2034 at the discretion of Southwest Health.

During the transition process, Southwest Health will add a number of full-time and part-time jobs as they upgrade the EMS team to paramedic level.  A combination of paramedics and EMT’s will staff the service.  EMTs usually complete at least 180 hours of training, where paramedic status requires 1,200 to 1,800 hours, and programs are often two-year degrees.  Paramedics can administer 40 or more medications, and perform certain procedures, including sedating a patient to insert a breathing tube.

Platteville EMS currently has 26 staff members, 3 of whom are paramedics.  This staff consists of one full-time administrator, one part-time assistant administrator, while the remaining 24 are paid on-call.  Most of the Platteville EMS staff members operate at an Advanced EMT (AEMT) level that requires an additional 170 hours of training beyond the basic EMT training.

Current Platteville EMS staff members are encouraged to apply for the new positions.