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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2015)
Western Lane Ambulance District (WLAD) Announces Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week May 17-23 2015, with the following reasons to celebrate: • WLAD provides dedicated Paramedics, EMT-I's and administrative staff whose number 1 priority is delivering excellent patient care. • WLAD offers a Community Wide Public Education Program including CPR classes, Automatic External Defi brillator (AED's) Distribution and Training Program, SAFEKIDS, and the TLC Hospice Care Program. • LIFEMED Patient Membership Program, providing our patients fi nancial coverage for out of pocket Emergency Ambulance Services. • The majority of WLAD Paramedics are trained as Critical Care Paramedics, allowing for a higher level of Mobile Intensive Care (MICU) Transport capabilities. • WLAD operates at a tax base of 0.3198 cents per 1000 and at a 5 year operating levy of 0.45 cents per 1000 - which is one of the lowest tax rates for a Public Emergency Services agency in Oregon. • One of the very few Public EMS agencies in the State of Oregon, which allows every dollar spent to go strictly to EMS services as well as State of the Art ambulances, top level medical equipment, medications, and training. • Covering an Ambulance District of almost 1000 square miles with various terrains such as coastal, dunes swarming with ATV riders, metro and rural regions and responding to approximately 3000 calls annually including MICU transports to specialty care hospitals such as River Bend in Springfi eld, and OHSU and Legacy Emmanuel in Portland. First of all I want the community to know what a privilege it is to serve as the Interim District Manager for Western Lane Ambulance District. With 33 years’ experience in the Fire and EMS services I can tell you all that the residents that live in or visit the area have one of the finest groups of men and women providing medical care and transportation in the business. Their compassion, dedication and competency is a model for what we all want and expect from emergency responders. I can’t think of a better way to express my confidence than to say that if I or any of my family members needed medical help it would be by the highly trained and skilled personnel of WLAD. Henry Hanf provided leadership and guidance to WLAD for over 18 years and was very supportive and involved within the community. He will be missed by those at WLAD and the community as a whole. I thought it fitting to reprint some of his thoughts and acclamations that were posted in last year’s address. “As a new fiscal year approaches and I look out the window of my office I see the ambulances lined up in front of the District and have to reflect back on the changes that have happened over the past 18 years. Seeing these magnificent symbols of the way our community supports Western lane Ambulance District gladdens my heart. We truly could not have the up to date equipment or vehicles without such zealous support from the community. Thank you. Even more inspiring are the letters we receive thanking our employees for their professionalism and medical skills. So many of you have called with words of praise and gratitude. I have to thank the Board of Directors for their intelligence and responsible attitude toward both the District and community. They take into account all that is needed and yet keep the knowledge that it is the taxpayers that fund those needs and balance the two beautifully. I look to our Mission Statement “To provide quick, efficient, professional emergency medical services, transport and community education with the highest standards of excellence.” I am proud to say that I believe we are fulfilling that promise to our community. Lastly, I would like to thank my employees and board for their contributions to the District. They are a selfless group that works all hours of the day and night, sometimes without meals or sleep and without complaint. They are all highly educated and kind people who have made it their life’s work to help those in their community. Thank you all, you have made my life better for knowing you.” I didn’t get a chance to meet Henry but wish that I had. It is evident, even in a short time, to see that Henry’s guidance and leadership helped established the high standard of excellence and the caring attitude that is so important for an emergency medical provider and the citizens that we are here to serve. Even though Henry is gone the principles and values that he lived by will continue to influence future decisions and the commitment of Western Lane Ambulance Districts to the citizens and community we serve. Sincerely, Brian Burright, Interim Manager Western Lane Ambulance District. Winner of 7 State of Oregon Awards for Outstanding Service and Excellence. The Future of Western Lane Ambulance District e t u l a S to The board of directors of Western Lane Ambulance District considers our District to be one of the finest emergency medical response teams anywhere. We intend to continue to deliver our high standard of care in a timely manner to the people of our district. Our District faces several challenges in the near future. Our call volume continues to increase as our population both grows and ages. Last year we exceeded 3,000 calls, a volume that was almost twice the call volume we had in the late 1990’s. At the same time we face ever declining reimbursements from insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. We must continue to operate efficiently and effectively. One way we do this is by hiring and retaining quality employees, those that know their jobs, and know the area. We will also continue to find ways to partner with Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue in both training and in call response. We will also continue to maintain quality, fully functioning up to date equipment to be used in the treatment and transport of our patients. Regardless of the challenges we face, it is the mission of Western Lane Ambulance District to continue to “provide professional emergency services, transport, and community education with the highest standards of excellence”. RENEW TODAY! Lifemed Members! This year's membership renewal packet is coming in the email. If you are currently not a member and would like to join, you may pick up your membership application at the following locations: Western Lane Ambulance District Office, Peace Harbor Hospital and Health Associates of Peace Harbor. Remember, your $65 provides you with security of knowing that your Lifemed Membership could save you up to $3,000 per emergency transport. Don't forget, your currnt membership expires July 31st and that's the last day you'll be albe to renew for this coming year. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK National Emergency Medical Services Week May 17-23 A note from the director:
