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A sneak peak of the new EMS Station in Wautoma. -
Keith Melvin, Waushara County EMS Chief
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On Tuesday, Jan. 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. Waushara EMS will hold an open house at their new station at N2400 S. Townline Rd., Wautoma. There will be guided tours throughout the afternoon, refreshments, ThedaStar tours, EMS recognition, and a ribbon cutting at 5p.m. The station built by the Samuels Group, is approximately 5,650 sq. ft. and houses all administrative staff for EMS, a training room, a three-bay ambulance garage, and quarters to support a shift of four EMT’s. The quarters include bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, living room, and laundry room.
Keith Melvin, Chief of Waushara EMS, with 36-years experience in EMS and has been with Waushara EMS for two years. He says he loves rural EMS and in this rural area you have to know medicine and said we have some of the best paramedics. Presently his department has 50 EMS, 26 full time, and 24 part time, including 25 paramedics. They have a fleet of six ambulances and four are staffed every day. In addition to Wautoma, the county has EMS stations in Poy Sippi, Hancock, and Wild Rose including one ambulance, one paramedic, and one EMT. Having these stations throughout the county insures a much faster response time. Melvin said the national goal to response is under 15 minutes.
Melvin works closely with Steven Woodstock, Deputy EMS Chief, who has been serving the county for a year. Woodstock is Chief of Operations and deals with crews, making sure ambulances are in working order, ordering supplies and setting up training. He is also a liason between the county and the billing department, EMS.MC (formerly Lifequest) in Wautoma.
Both Chief Melvin and Deputy Chief Woodstock will also respond with ambulance services as needed, and are available 24/7 to respond as needed. They recently responded to an incident where a life was saved thanks to Wautoma Police Department and Melvin and Woodstock’s response. Melvin said, “the biggest challenge for their department is the geography in Waushara County going end to end, top to bottom, while maintaining a great response time.” He said they no longer move ambulances around seeing there are stations throughout the county.
Their call volume includes 3,500 calls a year including transfers from Wild Rose and Berlin hospitals to hospitals in Oshkosh and the valley. Both Melvin and Woodstock are the first to say that EMS is expensive, but a very necessary service for Waushara County. Woodstock said, “We do the best we can and always have the taxpayers in mind.” Keeping in mind the best for their staff the EMS will now be working 48-hour shifts and staying at the centers and they will have four days off.
Melvin credits Barry West, Waushara County IT, with obtaining a telehealth grant that keeps all stations connected for teleconferencing. These virtual connections not only save fuel, but they also do not take out EMT’s and ambulances out of position.
Melvin also said they work with all 13 area fire department chiefs and first responders on cardiac training and more.
Plan now to attend the EMS Station Open House in Wautoma at N2400 S. Townline Rd., Wautoma on Tuesday, Jan. 16th from 2 to 5 p.m. The ribbon cutting at 5 p.m. will include the EMS Chief, Deputy Chief & Staff, Melissa Pingel, Waushara County Administrator, John Jarvis, County Board Chair, Waushara County Board of Supervisors, Kurt Berner and the Samuels Group. This is the second building to be completed by the Samuels Group in the Waushara Building Project. The Waushara County Highway Department Building is expected to be complete in February and the Government Center in May.
Keith Melvin, Chief of Waushara EMS, with 36-years experience in EMS and has been with Waushara EMS for two years. He says he loves rural EMS and in this rural area you have to know medicine and said we have some of the best paramedics. Presently his department has 50 EMS, 26 full time, and 24 part time, including 25 paramedics. They have a fleet of six ambulances and four are staffed every day. In addition to Wautoma, the county has EMS stations in Poy Sippi, Hancock, and Wild Rose including one ambulance, one paramedic, and one EMT. Having these stations throughout the county insures a much faster response time. Melvin said the national goal to response is under 15 minutes.
Melvin works closely with Steven Woodstock, Deputy EMS Chief, who has been serving the county for a year. Woodstock is Chief of Operations and deals with crews, making sure ambulances are in working order, ordering supplies and setting up training. He is also a liason between the county and the billing department, EMS.MC (formerly Lifequest) in Wautoma.
Both Chief Melvin and Deputy Chief Woodstock will also respond with ambulance services as needed, and are available 24/7 to respond as needed. They recently responded to an incident where a life was saved thanks to Wautoma Police Department and Melvin and Woodstock’s response. Melvin said, “the biggest challenge for their department is the geography in Waushara County going end to end, top to bottom, while maintaining a great response time.” He said they no longer move ambulances around seeing there are stations throughout the county.
Their call volume includes 3,500 calls a year including transfers from Wild Rose and Berlin hospitals to hospitals in Oshkosh and the valley. Both Melvin and Woodstock are the first to say that EMS is expensive, but a very necessary service for Waushara County. Woodstock said, “We do the best we can and always have the taxpayers in mind.” Keeping in mind the best for their staff the EMS will now be working 48-hour shifts and staying at the centers and they will have four days off.
Melvin credits Barry West, Waushara County IT, with obtaining a telehealth grant that keeps all stations connected for teleconferencing. These virtual connections not only save fuel, but they also do not take out EMT’s and ambulances out of position.
Melvin also said they work with all 13 area fire department chiefs and first responders on cardiac training and more.
Plan now to attend the EMS Station Open House in Wautoma at N2400 S. Townline Rd., Wautoma on Tuesday, Jan. 16th from 2 to 5 p.m. The ribbon cutting at 5 p.m. will include the EMS Chief, Deputy Chief & Staff, Melissa Pingel, Waushara County Administrator, John Jarvis, County Board Chair, Waushara County Board of Supervisors, Kurt Berner and the Samuels Group. This is the second building to be completed by the Samuels Group in the Waushara Building Project. The Waushara County Highway Department Building is expected to be complete in February and the Government Center in May.