December 15, 2011

 

Celebrating 30 years of service to Washtenaw County

 

More than 300 people stopped by the Huron Valley Ambulance headquarters in Ann Arbor on December 15 to help the nonprofit community ambulance service celebrate 30 years of providing quality pre-hospital care to the residents of Washtenaw County.

 

Congressman John Dingell sent a representative with well wishes and State Representative Jeff Irwin's office delivered a special tribute signed by all of the senators and representatives from Washtenaw County and Governor Snyder. Washtenaw County Administrator Verna McDaniel presented HVA with a County resolution saluting HVA for the service it has provided since 1981. Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje and were also on hand to recognize HVA's accomplishments.

 

 

HVA president and CEO Dale Berry stated that "HVA has evolved from an organization that was formed in response to a community in crisis to one of the nation's finest providers of pre-hospital care." Berry added, "Over the years, we have expanded our service area to provide 9-1-1 service to more than one million residents in all or part of nine counties in southeast and south central Michigan."

 

 

Among the many accomplishments over the past 30 years, HVA is most proud of the following:

• HVA was among the first ambulance services in the United States to become nationally accredited in 1993 by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS)

• All HVA ambulances are equipped with the latest life saving technology and experienced paramedics. Equipment includes: the latest LifePak electrocardiogram monitor/defibrillators; GPS systems that improve deployment and routing; and wireless mobile computers that connect medics in the field with hospital personnel and electronic patient records.

• HVA Center for EMS Education has been providing EMS students with the knowledge and tools they need to take EMS into the future since the 1980’s. The Center is licensed by the Michigan Department of Education as a post-secondary institution and state-approved for all levels of EMS Education. The Center’s paramedic program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs.

• HVA Mobility Transportation provides a cost-effective alternative to ambulance transports in Washtenaw, western Wayne and southwest Oakland counties. To meet the needs of people in our community who cannot afford specialized transportation to physician appointments, diagnostic tests or regularly scheduled procedures like renal dialysis, the HVA Board of Trustees created the HVA Social Responsibility Fund. Each year it allocates $300,000 to subsidize the cost of HVA Mobility Transportation.

• Since 2006, in partnership with the United Way organizations in southeast Michigan, HVA provides staff and technology for the regional 2-1-1 system. The 24-hour line is staffed by information and referral specialists who answer questions about assistance with food, rent, utility programs, taxes, and a variety of other social service issues.

•  HVA special units include a Mobile Intensive Care Unit and medical support for HazMat teams, SWAT teams, and Urban Search and Rescue teams.

• Special event coverage for the Ann Arbor Art Fairs, U-M Football, Milford Memories, Plymouth Art Fair, Ypsilanti Heritage Festival, and Michigan International Speedway are among the many special events we cover throughout the year. In addition to ambulances, paramedic bike teams, gators, and a Mobile Operations Center can be staged at events throughout our service area.

• Started in 1996, Camp 9-1-1 is a free summer day camp where children ages 8 to 12 learn CPR, first aid and all about EMS careers. Paramedics, public safety officials and special guests talk about their work and answer camper questions. The two-day camps are held in various locations throughout our service area.

•  A membership program for our ambulance service, EMSPlus offers cost savings if emergency ambulance transportation is needed. For one low annual fee, members receive emergency ambulance and paramedic services with no co-pays or out-of-pocket costs.

• Our call center is only a push button away for seniors who join EMS LifeLink, our 24-hour at-home monitoring system which allows those living at home alone the ability to summon help quickly in all situations, including emergencies.