Hospital gets grant to help train new ambulance workers

Elmore Medical Center has been awarded a $24,897 grant through the Idaho Flex Program to provide emergency medical services (EMS) training and education to area emergency service personnel.

The hospital will be taking over the county ambulance service beginning April 1, 2009.

Elmore County, City of Mountain Home, Pine/Featherville EMS and Oasis Volunteer Fire Department partnered with the hospital and the newly formed Elmore Ambulance Service in writing the grant application.

The grant project scope of work provides initial EMS education to new ambulance service employees and quick response unit volunteers, continuing education for area EMTs and ongoing training and education for area providers.

Classes such as First Responder, EMT Basic and Advanced, CPR, Pediatric Advanced and Advanced Cardiac Life Support will be offered. An education schedule will be developed by Elmore Ambulance Service. Once established, training opportunities will be open to interested emergency service personnel in Elmore County and extend to Bruneau and Grand View if interest exists.

The Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program is a Federal initiative that provides funding to State Governments to strengthen rural health. Program goals are to designate and support Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), foster rural network development, assist with healthcare quality improvement efforts and integrate and improve rural emergency medical services.