NEW ULM — Brown County Commissioner Dave Borchert testified at a Legislative Coordinating Commission EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Emergency Task force Field Hearing at the Mayo Clinic Event Center on Monday.

A South Central EMS board member, Borchert summarized his testimony to commissioners Tuesday by saying he often heard about the lack of life support EMS staff in rural Minnesota.

“This is a really a major issue. The two-hour task force meeting was very good discussion. There were a lot of professionals from different backgrounds that testified. Meetings were held around the state with discussions of basic life support, EMS, transport and ambulance services,” said Borchert.

“The more rural it is, the more difficulty they’re having. People serve 20-30 years but don’t give it up because it’s their community and there is nobody to replace them,” he said.

Borchert said he’s grateful to see the issue being handled on a state level and that some of the issues are connected to funding.

“I mentioned mental health transport. How many employers can handle losing someone for an entire day for a transport?” he said.

Borchert said Walnut Grove Ambulance Service hired a full-time EMT (emergency medical technician) that works during the day. A lot of ambulance staff are not available to be on call.

He said the female EMT also does maintenance work, cleans city buildings and pours drinks at the municipal liquor store, Borchert said.

Another small town contracts with a larger town for EMTs during the day.

“It seems everybody is being as creative as they can. The task force is looking at recruitment and retention. If you served 20 years on the ambulance service and are in good standing, your retirement is $10,000. Some fire departments and law enforcement in our region may look at close to $100,000 or more, “ said Borchert.

He said no one is in it for the money, but exploration is underway to find ways to attract individuals to ambulance services.

Commissioner Scott Windschitl said he put nine years on the Lafayette Ambulance Service and got about $25,000 for 30 years on the fire department.

“Obviously, they need to move on this. I don’t know what the answer is,” said Windschitl.

Borchert said revenue streams are being considered.

“Ambulance services can’t require contracts with townships now like fire departments can,” said Borchert said. “Options include removing those restrictions. Another thing is having a firefighter or individual who is not an EMT driving the ambulance while the other person in the ambulance is an EMT instead of two others in the ambulance.”

Borchert said he’s hopeful and confident a solution to lack of ambulance services staff will be found.

For more information, visit https://.lcc.mn.gov/ems/meetings.html