| New
ambulance
Thanks to a $102,000 grant from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, a $5000 donation from St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation and a $1500 donation from the Berklund Foundation; St. Mary’s Hospital was able to purchase a new 2014 Chevy G4500 diesel ambulance priced at $146,341. On an average the SMH ambulance crew makes about 250 runs a year. Presently there are 16 EMTs on the crew and12 are currently taking the EMT course; at this time it is not known how many will actually join the SMH ambulance crew. Ambulances are generally replaced every five to eight years or at 100,000 miles. Due to specific grant guidelines the oldest ambulance in the SMH fleet can no longer be used to transport patients. It will probably be sold to a quick response agency to be used on scene. SMH will still have two ambulances in service; the other one has78,000 miles and will be due for replacement in approximately six to seven years. There are times when both ambulances are being used at the same time; for local emergencies and for transfers out of town. “The new ambulance has a three year 36,000 mile warranty on the chassis and one year on the module,” said Tom Seubert, EMS Co-coordinator. “The ambulance was custom built to meet our needs and has more storage with easier access.” “We need to have a dependable ambulance to meet the needs of the community,” commented Linda Beckman, EMS Co-coordinator. “With this purchase we will accomplish that. A special thanks to the State of Idaho, St. Mary’s Hospital and both the St. Mary’s and Berklund Foundations for making this purchase possible.” 
St. Mary’s Foundation Board presents a check to the ambulance crew to help fund the new ambulance. Shown are Shelli Schumacher, Jim Rehder, Leianne Everett, Janice Baldus, Theresa Uptmor, Morris Arnzen, Palmer Weibert, Linda Beckman, Tom Seubert, Danielle Cochran, Jennifer Cochran, Myca Evans, Amy Phillips, Teresa Bryant, Kim Coppernoll, Dave Poxleitner, Brian Adams, Charlotte Dasenbrock and Cody Funke. |
 |