Emergency medical services are of a great concern among area counties. Winnebago County was able to secure tax funding to support the hiring of more Emergency Medical Technicians and paramedics. Counties such as Worth and Kossuth have come up empty handed from ballot initiatives to support their plans for EMS services.
In the case of Worth County, the Board of Supervisors are working with ambulatory services both in and out of the county. Worth County Supervisor Enos Loberg explained to the other board supervisors that he has been in contact with the Mason City Ambulance Service to try and figure out coverage in the county.
Where ambulance services cross over in Worth County is where there will need to be mutual aid agreements. Loberg explained that these will have to be worked out between ambulance services in the county.
The Forest City Ambulance Service has maintained that they will help serve the westernmost portions of Worth County which could leave Winnebago County residents short-handed with paramedics in the event of an emergency.
Loberg feared that townships in Worth County might be facing another financial burden.
The county continues to try and find solutions to the issue of ambulatory coverage along with a labor shortage in paramedics and EMT’s.
