Deer-Grove (WI) EMS is looking to grow by doubling its number of full-time paramedics, the News Independent reports.
The department currently has eight full-time paramedics and a full-time chief. Chief Eric Lang told the newspaper he wants to hire four more people by next summer and anther four more by July 2013. The department also has about 15 volunteers.
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The additions would make the department’s budget about $1.45 million, a 27 percent increase over 2020’s $1.14 million budget. By 2023, that number would be up to $1.85 million.
Lang said staff needs to be hired because an analysis showed it was taking nearly double the time to respond to calls on the opposite site of the district.
Lang said he would like to have two additional ambulances staffed by 2023.
Town commissioners questioned last month if the district had the call volume to justify the additional paramedics and how much the new hires would help in decreasing response times.