Tri-State Ambulance Inc

TRI-STATE AMBULANCE HAS PROUDLY SERVED SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN, SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA, AND NORTHEAST IOWA SINCE 1970, WITH THE MOST ADVANCED PRE-HOSPITAL PATIENT CARE AVAILABLE TO THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS EVERY YEAR. PRIMARY EMERGENCY 911 RESPONSE AS WELL AS EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY INTERFACILITY TRANSPORT AND INTERCEPT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED 24 HOURS A DAY. ANOTHER MEASURE OF TRI-STATE AMBULANCES' SUCCESS IS DESCRIBED IN A RECENT COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ANALYZING THE PERCENTAGE OF PATIENTS WHO WERE DISCHARGED FROM A HOSPITAL AFTER SUFFERING A CARDIAC ARREST IN WHICH THE EVENT WAS WITNESSED AND THE VICTIM WAS IN A SHOCKABLE HEART RHYTHM (WHERE A DEFIBRILLATOR COULD BE USED). IN 2020, TRI-STATE AMBULANCE RESPONDED TO COVID PANDEMIC WHILE ENCOUNTERING LARGE PPE EXPENSES AND STAFFING EVEN THOUGH REVENUE DROPPED. TRI-STATE AMBULANCE, INC UTILIZED TELEHEALTH INTEGRATION TO ALLOW SPECIALISTS TO PARTICIPATE IN VIRTUAL CARE IN MOVING AMBULANCE. THEY WERE ONE OF LESS THAN 200 AMBULANCE SERVICES IN THE NATION CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN ET3 - EMERGENCY TRIAGE, TREATMENT, AND TRANSPORT. THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH OTHER GUNDERSEN DEPARTMENTS TO INCREASE STAFF FLEXIBILITY AND ARE EXPANDING PULSEPOINT COMMUNITY APP. IN 2021, TRI-STATE AMBULANCE, INC WAS ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF AMBULANCE SERVICES (CAAS). IN 2022, TRI-STATE AMBULANCE HAD 11,590 TRANSPORTS, 221 STANDBYS, 6,203 NON-TRANSPORTS, AND 18,014 TOTAL CALLS. TSA HAS LAUNCHED A PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS ALTERNATE DESTINATION TRANSPORTS AS WELL AS TELEHEALTH USE FOR 911 PATIENTS. IN 2022, TSA BECAME ACCREDITED WITH THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION FOR AMBULANCE SERVIES (CAAS). THIS IS A THREE YEAR ACCREDITATION AND WILL BE UP FOR RENEWAL IN 2024. IN ADDITION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GUNDERSEN HEALTH SYSTEM, TSA LAUNCHED A "PARAMEDIC TRAINEE" PROGRAM WHICH IS AN "EARN WHILE YOU LEARN" OPPORTUNITY. TSA HIRED 7 EMTS IN FULL-TIME CAPACITY WHO WILL RECEIVE PAY AND BENEFITS WHILE THEY ATTEND PARAMEDIC SCHOOL. IN 2023, TRI-STATE AMBULANCE HAD 8,517 TRANSPORTS, 54 STANDBYS, 3,149 NON-TRANSPORTS, AND 11,720 TOTAL CALLS. TSA HAS LAUNCHED A PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS ALTERNATE DESTINATION TRANSPORTS AS WELL AS TELEHEALTH USE FOR 911 PATIENTS. WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE FISCAL MARGIN DESPITE HIGHER OVERTIMES COSTS WITH STAFFING SHORTAGES. WE CONTINUE TO BE ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF AMBULANCE SERVICES (CAAS). A SIGNIFICANT AREA OF EXPENSE THIS YEAR WAS THE CREATION OF A PARAMEDIC TRAINEE PROGRAM. WITH THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE HIRED EMTS INTO FULLTIME POSITIONS AND PAID FOR THEIR FULL-TIME PARAMEDIC SCHOOLING. WHILE THIS PROGRAM WAS COSTLY, THE INDUSTRY SHORTAGE OF PARAMEDICS MADE IT A NECESSITY. ADDITIONALLY, THE CMS FEDERAL PROGRAM ENDED THEIR ET3 TELEHEALTH AND ALTERNATE DESTINATION PROGRAM AT THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIND WAY TO TREAT PATIENTS WITHOUT COSTLY EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS. IN 2024, TRI-STATE AMBULANCE HAD 12,030 TRANSPORTS, 104 STANDBYS, 264 NON-TRANSPORTS, AND 16,322 TOTAL CALLS. TRI-STATE AMBULANCE, INC completed our second year of offering the paramedic trainee program, this program contracted with the local technical college to provide full-time paramedic education to 8-10 of our EMTs. These EMTs were hired into these roles with their main function to be full-time students and complete their education. The program was very successful, but costly. TRI-STATE AMBULANCE has completed the CAAS Reaccreditation, high staff 12-month retention rates in the low 90%s and a successful partnership with local fire department.