By Heather McDonald

Two Portage County Emergency Management Services (EMS) providers have received verbal approval from the state for their EMS paramedic level licensure with a stipulation that both must be up and running as a two-paramedic system within two years.

County EMS Director Joe Brandt told the county EMS Negotiations Committee Oct. 19 that the state has verbally confirmed the paramedic licensure for Amherst Fire District (AFD) and Plover. The county currently contracts with AFD and the Stevens Point Fire Department (SPFD) for EMS across the county. Those contracts run through 2018.

The contract with Plover for EMS services is still under negotiations, Brandt said, but those involved anticipate services beginning in the first quarter of 2018.

The licenses will not be issued until certain parameters are met, Brandt said.

“We have the state’s decision on how they want us to move forward, and we’ll go from there,” he said. “Both chiefs have been contacted. There are tweaks to the operational plans that have to be made, and as soon as that’s done, they’ll sign off on it.”

To read the rest of the story, pick up a copy of the Portage County Gazette at one of the many newsstands in the area, including gas stations and grocery stores. Or subscribe at shopmmclocal.com/product/portage-county-gazette/ to have weekly copies delivered by mail.

For more information or to subscribe over the phone, call 715-343-8045.