Washburn Ambulance Service Plans to Address Worker Shortages

WASHBURN, Wis (WBZH / WHSM) – Washburn Area Ambulance Service officials say they’re working to address persistent workforce shortages amid growing demand.

Organization officials say their workforce roster has decreased from 24 people to just 15 over the last few years. The diminished workforce has led to longer hours and difficulties providing full coverage for nearly 4,000 residents in Washburn, Bayview, and Barksdale.

According to an Ashland Daily Press report, Washburn Area Ambulance Service Director Ted Gostomski says the organization’s call volume has increased by well over 100 per year since 2020. Officials say they are developing a variety of staffing plans to meet industry standard staffing levels to address the increased need. That standard calls for 11 full-time employees to staff one ambulance for 24 hours a day.

The organization currently staffs three full time EMTs, with two of them working 10 hour shifts each day. Officials say between the full time staff and current paid on-call staff, they can only meet about half of the needs of the community.

Under the current plan, the organization would staff 10 paid on-call EMTs and two paid on-call emergency medical responders to cover nights and weekends. The city also recently received grant funding from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to develop a more effective strategy for providing EMS services in rural communities across the county.

Struggles with EMS staffing have become increasingly common in the region over recent years. Since the HSHS hospital closures in the Chippewa Valley last year, residents outside of Eau Claire have been subjected to longer wait times for ambulances. EMS service providers have also reported higher operational costs as they cover more ground.