Update on EMS Staffing Services

 To Our Community,

For decades, West River Health Services has been proud to support and sustain emergency medical services (EMS) through the efforts of community members willing to take "on-call & on-call pay"—from ambulance drivers to EMTs & Paramedics—who gave their time and talent to care for their neighbors in times of urgent need. This model has served our community well and has been possible in large part due to the selflessness of individuals who stepped up.

However, over the past several years, we have seen a significant decline in the number of community members willing or able to take on these critical roles. In response, West River Health Services began funding 24/7 paid EMS coverage, including full-time EMT and paramedic salaries, and overtime hours. While this effort helped sustain service for a time, the existing structure is unsustainable and is not aligned with other operations of our organization.

We are currently working with Bismarck State College to provide an onsite EMT course at West River Health Services to lessen the burden of travel for those willing and eager to step up to serve their community. If you would be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please call (701) 567-6183. Effective August 1, 2025 we will no longer staff continuous 24/7 paid coverage for EMTs and paramedics. Instead, we will return to an on-call-based model, relying on the continued dedication of community members and WRHS staff who are willing to take paid EMS on-call and callback pay for the time dedicated to preserving our emergency coverage.

We understand that this change could result in occasional disruptions in EMS availability, and we are working hard to minimize any impact to patient care. We are deeply grateful to the individuals who continue to support this vital community service, and we welcome anyone interested in making a positive impact to this community, to reach out.

This decision was not made lightly. Our commitment to this community remains strong, and we will continue to explore every possible avenue to maintain access to emergency response and transfer care.

Thank you, 

West River Health Services