DARLINGTON — At the Green County EMS Meeting on Dec. 21, the Green County EMS Board voted unanimously to continue services for the Rural Medical Area until June 30. This agreement comes after GCEMS and Rural Medical had previously signed a contract through the end of 2020. 

Chief Dan Nufer presented at the Lafayette County Thrive Meeting held Nov. 17 and stated the need for Rural Medical to find a different solution for ambulance services for the Rural Medical area. At that meeting, and at subsequent meetings, the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors voted to create a County EMS Department with the goal of providing long-term EMS services to the Rural Medical Service Area. Rural Medical was tasked with finding a short-term EMS solution until the Lafayette County service is up and running which led them back to the Green County EMS Board to ask for the extension of service.

Tim McComish, Rural Medical President, was elated with the Green County EMS Board’s decision, stating that this decision is truly best for the residents in the Rural Medical Service Area. He thanked the crew who have been working with GCEMS, for their hard work, dedication and continuation of coverage.

Lafayette County is currently working with The Paramedic Foundation to lay the groundwork for the new EMS department, including laying out a timeline for when service can begin. If Lafayette County is able, it will start providing EMS prior to the June 30 end date.

Kathy Kuepers, CEO of Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County, has already begun working with the Paramedic Foundation and will have them on site the first week in January to start meeting with stakeholders and learning more about Lafayette County. 

Updates on the project will continue to be available on the Lafayette County website as well as a “Frequently Asked Questions” page of the Memorial Hospital website to ensure the public continues to be informed.