$1.69 Million in Rural Health Initiative Grants Awarded

Michigan Department of Community Health Director, James K. Haveman, Jr., today announced that $1.69 million in rural health funding has been awarded for local Emergency Medical Service Recruitment (EMS) and Retention Projects.

"Pre-hospital care and the transportation of patients to health care facilities is a vital part of health care," said Haveman. "In Michigan's rural areas, where two-thirds of the services are volunteer-based, many emergency medical service providers lack the resources to maintain or enhance existing systems. Through these 54 projects, we are pleased to work in partnership with rural communities to stabilize and strengthen their local emergency medical services."

Rural Health Initiative EMS Recruitment and Retention grants will be used to develop or expand EMS networks. Funds will also be used to offer reduced cost trainings and tuition subsidy programs to attract volunteers, as well as to purchase and/or replace essential operating equipment, such as ambulances, radio systems and defibrillators.

During this first round of funding announcements, 54 grants are awarded to 47 agencies, including local life support and public safety organizations, hospitals, local governmental entities and Medical Control Authorities. In addition to state Rural Health Initiative funds, rural communities have offered $2.3 million in local matching funds, along with thousands of volunteer hours. The following projects have received awards:

Southwest Michigan ($9,472):
-- The city of Sturgis, will receive $9,472 to improve radio communication capabilities.

Mid and Central Michigan ($126,566):
-- Standish Community Hospital, Inc., will receive $4,998 to purchase Hospital Emergency Radio Network equipment for its Emergency Department.

-- Freeport Rural Fire Association, in Barry County, will receive $15,000 to purchase a new rescue vehicle.

-- Clement Fire Association, Inc., located in Gladwin County, will receive $440 to purchase emergency medical service equipment.

-- Gratiot Community Hospital, in Alma, will receive $24,100 to purchase and install a new radio communication system.

-- The county of Mecosta and Mecosta County EMS will receive $57,255 to purchase a new ambulance and various EMS training items.

-- Newaygo County Medical Control Authority will receive $17,024 to purchase communication equipment and data recorder.

-- Newaygo County First Responders will receive $3,890 to purchase an emergency response trailer and supplies.

-- LeRoy Rose Lake Fire Department, in Osceola County, will receive $3,859 to purchase a rescue all terrain vehicle for transporting accident victims in remote areas.

Thumb Area ($301,945):
-- Scheurer Hospital, in Huron County, will receive $47,345 to replace an ambulance.

-- Deckerville Emergency Medical Service, in Sanilac County, will receive $15,930 to purchase a 12-lead heart monitor and infusion pump to provide advanced life support.

-- McKenzie Memorial Hospital, in Sanilac County, will receive $15,000 to purchase a cardiac monitor and infusion pump.

-- Sanilac Medical Control Authority, in Sandusky, will receive $173,670 to develop and implement a comprehensive EMS pre-hospital data collection and patient record system; to offer reduced cost EMS training and upgrade training equipment; and to establish a Pre-hospital Cardiac Care program.

-- Hills and Dales General Hospital, in Tuscola County, will receive $50,000 to purchase a new ambulance and upgrade aging equipment items.

Northern Michigan ($618,169):
-- Curtis Township, in Alcona County, will receive $6,205 to establish a state licensed and fully operational Medical First Responder Unit.

-- Alpena General Hospital will receive $76,168 to organize a regional Medical Control Consortium that will include EMS agencies located in Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Emmet, Presque Isle counties and portions of Montmorency county.

-- Alpena County will receive $25,000 to replace an older ambulance.

-- Long Rapids Township Fire Department, in Alpena County, will receive $951 to purchase medical training and response equipment to provide higher quality service.

-- Foster Township and Clear Lake Fire Department, in Ogemaw County, will receive $1,500 to purchase communication equipment.

-- Rogers City Area Ambulance Authority, in Presque Isle County, will receive $39,268 to purchase an additional ambulance, radio and cot.

-- Melrose Fire Department Station 2, in Boyne Falls, will receive $12,081 to replace its first responder vehicle.

-- Frederic Township Volunteer Fire Department, in Crawford County, will receive $5,203 to purchase communication equipment and a snowmobile to pull a rescue sled.

-- Munson Medical Center, in Traverse City, will receive $200,000 to expand the eight-county Northwest Michigan EMS Network to Charlevoix, Manistee, Oscoda and Roscommon counties and portions of Montmorency county.

-- North Flight, Inc., in Traverse City, will receive $100,000 to establish and organize a regional EMS dispatch and data network in Antrim, Benzie, Crawford, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee and Wexford counties.

-- Kalkaska Memorial Hospital will receive $83,750 to replace an ambulance and purchase operational equipment, and support the training of five paramedics.

-- Glen Arbor Township Volunteer Fire Department, in Leelanau County, will receive $5,100 to purchase two automated external defibrillators and radio equipment.

-- The City of Manistee Fire Department will receive $50,000 to replace one of its medical first response vehicles with a rescue/transport vehicle.

-- Otsego Memorial Hospital, in Gaylord, will receive $12,943 to upgrade its pre-hospital radio system.

Upper Peninsula ($637,962):
-- Alger County Sheriff's Department, in Munising, will receive $46,425 to purchase a radio system for EMS compatible with the Michigan Public Safety Communications.

-- Burt Township Emergency Medical Service, in Alger County, will receive $47,121 to train 10 individuals as basic emergency medical technicians; to purchase communications equipment; and replace an outdated ambulance.

-- Baraga County Memorial Hospital, in L'Anse, will receive $40,825 to purchase a county wide emergency services communication system.

-- Covington Township, in Baraga County, will receive $40,000 to purchase a new ambulance that replaces an older, less dependable vehicle.

-- Kinross Charter Township Ambulance Department, in Chippewa County, will receive $25,000 to purchase a new ambulance.

-- Rudyard Ambulance Corp, in Chippewa County, will receive $2,655 to purchase new radios and radio pagers for first responders and emergency medical technicians.

-- Whitefish Township Emergency Medical Service, in Chippewa County, will receive $50,000 to purchase an ambulance that will replace an aging vehicle.

-- Star Ambulance, in Dickinson County, will receive $50,000 to purchase a new ambulance.

-- Nordic Volunteer Ambulance, in Dickinson County, will receive $10,500 to purchase 15 portable radio/pager units and an all-terrain vehicle with rescue sled.

-- Champion Township First Responders, in Marquette County, will receive $1,278 to purchase six two-way portable radios with paging capabilities.

-- Marquette County will receive $8,750 to purchase an automated external defibrillator and trench rescue/stabilization equipment.

-- Ishpeming Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service, in Marquette County, will receive $15,000 to purchase a first response vehicle equipped with advanced life support supplies and equipment.

-- Forsyth Township, in Marquette County, will receive $47,975 to purchase a new ambulance that replaces an older, less dependable vehicle.

-- Michigamme-Spurr First Responder team, in Marquette County, will receive $44,000 to purchase a first response vehicle that replaces an out-dated vehicle.

-- Skandia-West Branch First Responders, in Marquette County, will receive $12,682 to upgrade their emergency medical services communication system.

-- Upper Peninsula Health Care Network, in Marquette, will receive $86,295 to develop a network of medical control authorities in Alger, Baraga, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee and Ontonagon counties.

-- Hermansville Rescue Squad and Ambulance Service, Inc., in Menominee County, will receive $50,000 to purchase a new ambulance that replaces an older, less dependable vehicle.

-- SONCO Ambulance, Inc., in Ontonagon County, will receive $9,956 to purchase needed training equipment and to offer reduced cost continuing education courses and paramedic training to its volunteer emergency medical service personnel.

-- Manistique Emergency Medical Services, in Schoolcraft County, will receive $49,500 to purchase a new ambulance that replaces an aging vehicle.

A second round of funding announcements for EMS Recruitment and Retention projects and Medical Equipment and Technology projects will be released in late July.