National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week is May 17–23. The national theme this year is “Improving Outcomes, Together,” recognizing EMS clinicians and highlighting collaboration, innovation, and community engagement. EMS Week is dedicated to celebrating the EMS profession and all they do to protect the health and safety of our communities.
“Improving Outcomes, Together” extends beyond medicine. It is a collective responsibility that includes investing in the people behind the care through fair pay, safe staffing levels, mental health resources, leadership that listens and acts, and opportunities for professional growth.
EMS professionals carry tremendous responsibility to the community, and without their heroism, lifesaving measures often would not be possible prior to hospital care. Today’s EMS clinicians bring advanced skills and innovative tools to these critical moments, with evolving models of care that serve patients in big cities, tribal lands, rural plains, and everywhere in between.
In rural healthcare, it can take longer to reach a healthcare facility, and we are blessed with EMS staff who can recognize deterioration, initiate lifesaving measures, and prepare the nearest facility for the patient’s arrival. The Faulk County Commissioners and Faulk County Ambulance Service strive to stay up to date on EMS protocols through monthly education provided by Sanford Health.
In addition, we have Avel support in the back of the ambulance, allowing EMS staff to consult with physicians, nurses, and paramedics during critical cases and improve communication with the receiving facility. To better support our rural hospital, Faulk County EMS has also been vital in transferring patients who require a higher level of care, resulting in quicker interventions and better patient outcomes.
Providing care across a large rural area takes skill, commitment, and compassion, and we thank the crew at Faulk County EMS for their hard work and dedication.
If you are looking for a way to contribute to the community, you can help with “Improving Outcomes, Together” by contacting Brady Hartung at 605-641-3147.