The two services providing ambulance coverage in Danville say having both of them in town has worked well.
Dr. Kurt Bloomstrand, the Regional EMS Medical Director for Presence Pro Ambulance, often responds with the ambulance crew to more serious calls.
‘’Today the paramedics do a lot,’’ says Dr. Bloomstrand. ‘’They can do a lot to assist you, so most of the time I’m just there for moral support. But I do carry a little extra medications. I carry some extra stuff to do procedures – surgical procedures. So we’re looking at bad car accidents. We’re looking at disasters, large scale events where there’s going to be lots of patients that’s going to overwhelm the system. Or a very ill patient where they need that higher level of care sooner.’’
Carle Arrow Ambulance provides both emergency and non-emergency service in Danville and the surrounding area. Larry Sapp is the Arrow Ambulance Director.
‘’Obviously Arrow has been operating since the acquisition of Medix back in August of last year. And Pro Ambulance Service started their operations recently on the 9-1-1 side in February. Since that time Arrow’s just focused on being committed to carrying out the operations that Medix has been doing over there for thirty-six years, and providing that long tradition to the residents and the patients of Vermilion County and Danville,’’ said Sapp.
Both men say there has been plenty of business to keep their services busy. And although Arrow does not have a physician in Danville who responds to calls, Sapp says there are times the two physicians overseeing the ambulance service ride along.
‘’They’re out there and they don’t have a regular schedule or they don’t go on a regular need – but if needed we can call them and we can certainly get them there. The other thing I think our physicians bring is they’re Army Veterans. So I know we see a lot of significant trauma and through their experience being Army Veterans they provide a high level of expertise for those patients that need trauma care,’’ added Sapp.
Carle Arrow Ambulance took over the former Medix Ambulance Service in August of last year. Presence Health started running transfer calls in Danville with Pro Ambulance in October. And Pro started emergency runs in Danville on February 1st. Both Presence and Carle say they are committed to the Danville area.
