This next chart illustrates the proportion of Corinna area calls covered by Corinna and Dexter.

As you can see we are still doing a substantial number of Corinna area calls from Dexter but most are for advanced life-support back-up as opposed to transports. Approximately 14% of Dexter base runs were what would be traditionally Corinna Runs. So there is still work to do in this area.

The good news is we are increasing the number of licensed EMTs in the Corinna and Dexter area who can take calls in Corinna however getting a significant number of these people to the paramedic level where they can handle advanced life support level calls without assistance will take time. We do have at least a basic level crew in Corinna now 95 % of the time consistently.

We currently have a gap in staffing Corinna between 6:00 am and 8:00 am weekdays when the night call crew goes off duty and the paid day crew comes on duty; this period of time Corinna is covered by Dexter. We are working on a solution to that problem.

We are currently covering Corinna with a paramedic approximately 70% of the time. One of our barriers to better coverage in Corinna is the current lack of adequate crew quarters which we are working to obtain. Dover units handled 3 calls in Dexter last month and only one of those required a response from Dover, for the other two a Dover crew was standing by in Dexter because all other units in the area were busy. Corinna handled one call in Dexter, so 92 % of Dexter calls were handled by the Dexter Ambulance. The change in the number of calls in Dexter handled by Dover units justifies the second call crew in Dexter which we began staffing in November.

In the Mayo EMS system which now consists of bases in Dexter, Dover-Foxcroft and Corinna we had a record call volume year of 3,424 runs system-wide. We are currently staffing with 6 crews during peak hours and 4 crews during slower hours. We are doing this with an active roster of 57 people; 19 paramedics, 12 EMT-intermediates, 20 basic EMTs and 6 drivers. This was our second full calendar year of providing EMS to the citizens of the Town of Dexter and on behalf of the entire crew we enjoy serving the citizens of Dexter and will continue to strive to provide you the highest level of service possible.

In closing we have one request for the residents of Dexter; please make sure your residences are marked with the appropriate house number, with numbers large enough to see clearly from the street. This is one issue that will consistently slow an ambulances response to your home when needed. LED lighted house numbers that are gradually appearing around the area are something we have found to be a tremendous asset to us in quickly locating residences. Thank you.

Respectfully submitted,

Brian K Mullis, WEMT-P, I/C
EMS Director
Mayo Regional Hospital