M Focus on: Public Safety
Communities deal with increasing EMS calls
By DENISE FEDOROW | The Municipal
Many communities across the nation are seeing an increase in emergency medical services calls, requiring changes to ensure residents receive this critical service. Many are moving toward municipal-run services. There are several reasons for the increasing demand, including an aging population. Fort Atkinson, Wis., Fire Chief Daryl Rausch noted a couple of things are factoring into this growing problem. “Yes, we do have an aging population,” Rausch said, adding he was at the tail end of the baby boomers himself — those born between 1946-1964 now ranging in age between 58 to 76. “So we expect a steadily increasing need until 2035.” By 2050, there could be a leveling off of calls. “Another element is our community has become more used to calling 911,” he said. He gave the example of when he was a boy. If he fell, his mom would wash him up and 18 THE MUNICIPAL | APRIL 2022
send him back out to play. “Now we’re more in tune to having to take the kids somewhere to get checked out.” Rausch said they’ve also seen people’s ability to get medical care “somewhat degraded because of the economy and companies severely restricting insurance. People tend to use 911 transports thinking they’ll be seen quicker, and those without quality health care tend to delay getting health care until it becomes critical.” Also, in Fort Atkinson specifically, “we have a large number of managed care facilities, nursing homes, assisted living and group homes, and those types of things bring a heightened amount of calls.”
ABOVE: Call volume has increased in Fort Atkinson, Wis., and its private provider has struggled to keep up. A referendum in April aims to support their effort by adding Fire/ EMS service to the city’s fire department. (Photo provided by Fort Atkinson, Wis.)
Fort Atkinson is a volunteer fire department with four full-time firefighters — including the chief and three deputy chiefs — and 39 volunteers. Right now, the city has a third-party contractor for 911 EMS service. In 2021, they had 537 calls for service, including both fire and EMS. City Manager Rebecca Housman LeMire said there’s been a 108% increase over the number of calls in 2010. Rausch noted a large part of that increase has been in EMS calls. “The EMS provider is overwhelmed,” Rausch said. “They’ve provided one dedicated 911 ambulance and another that could be used for 911, and when those units are busy, they call the fire department to take the overflow.”
