New Ambulance Licensure

By Mary Rains

New MLHS Paramedics: Jennifer Overkamp, Jennifer Bolduc Back left, Al Oyler, Ryan Holmvig, James Overkamp.

Another level of service for the community.

Mille Lacs Health System’s ambulance service has been approved for an upgrade to part time Advanced Life Support (ALS) Service. The license is approved and active as of Friday, May 11th.

It has been a very thorough, detailed process which took many months, many hours of training, and lots of preparation. Field Services Supervisor Bob Norlen, from the Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board, was at the Onamia campus inspecting ambulances and meeting with staff last week in its last leg of the application process for ALS.

Norlen said that he applauds the ambulance services that go through all the necessary but difficult work to step up the care in their communities through the ALS upgrade. “But people need to remember that Basic Life Support comes first,” he noted. “You’ve got to have a good BLS system established before you move forward with the Advanced Life Support. MLHS was ready to advance because they provide such superb care already. It was time.”

Paramedics have been hired and trained in protocols, policies and procedures. A “chase” car has been purchased to aid in the advanced life support-at-the-scene operations, and the Mille Lacs Area Health Foundation is raising funds for the type of ambulance needed for ALS.