Lutheran EMS Kosciusko have added an additional ambulance to their fleet. (Photo provided)

WARSAW — Lutheran EMS Kosciusko is expanding its ability to quickly respond to 911 calls that require emergency medical response. A third ambulance will be added in Warsaw and used primarily during an eight-hour daytime shift. The new truck will join a fleet of five other staffed EMS Kosciusko ambulances located throughout the county.

Five ambulances are staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. The new unit, purchased by Lutheran Health Network via an investment that did not include public funds, will be in service daily between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Lutheran EMS Kosciusko also has the ability to staff two other ambulances that remain on standby to address needs during times of high run volume.

“While we are very pleased to introduce another ambulance that features the reliability and resources the community expects and deserves in this kind of emergency, what sets us apart has always been effective processes that are carried out seamlessly by highly trained staff,” said Scott Sigerfoos, CCEMT-P, director, Lutheran EMS Kosciusko. “From the moment patients call 911, they are speaking with certified emergency medical dispatchers who receive initial and ongoing education from our program. When time is of the essence, it’s crucial for dispatchers. EMTs and hospital personnel to deliver without delay care that is consistent and medically appropriate for the patient.”

One key area where Lutheran EMS Kosciusko works hand-in-hand with the Kosciusko County Dispatch Center involves ongoing training to optimize care and instruction for cardiac arrest situations. This partnership has helped the ambulance provider improve its cardiac arrest save rates to more than double the national average.

Lutheran EMS Kosciusko is also Warsaw’s only ambulance service with local medical direction, which helps it remain mindful of the needs of the community. The program works closely with physicians board certified in emergency medicine and other regional specialists including cardiologists, neurologists and trauma surgeons who help craft treatment guidelines. The added advantage of being integrated into one of the largest health systems in northeastern Indiana continues to serve as a benefit to patients in the community.

The addition of the new ambulance has also let to the addition of new jobs. Five full-time staff and three PRNs, or as needed staff, have been training for more than a month in advance of the first day of operation. The crew and truck will be stationed at 2304 E. Center St., Warsaw.