By Bill Carey
EMS1
SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. — The sudden notification about the closure of a Wisconsin emergency department has led Sun Prairie EMS to quickly ask for funding for more paramedics.
Sun Prairie EMS is asking city officials for over $700,000 to hire seven new paramedics to staff a fourth ambulance, Channel3000 reported due to the closing of SSM Health’s emergency department.
“It would’ve been nice to have a little bit better notice because this truly has an adverse effect on all of Sun Prairie’s public safety,” Fire and EMS Chief Christopher Garrison said. Garrison said he learned about the closing less than two months before the expected closure date.
Garrison said of the 4,000 calls they run annually one-third are transported to SSM’s ED in Sun Prairie. When the ED closes, transport time will triple from nine minutes to 27 as they travel to Madison.
“Just think of the patient who just says, ‘Oh, I’m going to hop in my car and drive down the street because it’s right there.’ That will also change the attitude of calling an ambulance,” Garrison said.
SSM spokesperson Lisa Adams told Channel3000 that the Sun Prairie ED has not seen enough patients to justify keeping the location open and many of those that were coming in for treatment were better suited for urgent care.
Garrison‘s funding request would reallocate funds saved from discontinued management positions after the merger of the city’s fire and EMS departments. He also wants the funds currently being used to pay part-time paramedics to be used for full-time positions.