Missouri Ambulance Service Announces $10M in Planned Capital Purchases
Source: St. Charles County Ambulance Service
ST. PETERS, MO—With annual call volume eclipsing 55,000 and trending upward, having the right assets in place to care for ill and injured individuals is pivotal for paramedics in St. Charles County, Missouri. This year, St. Charles County Ambulance District (SCCAD) will invest $10 million in planned capital expenditures that will ensure rapid response times and an advanced level of clinical care.
The district will soon break ground on a new ambulance station at 8050 Phoenix Pkwy. in O’Fallon. When complete, the facility will be the largest of the district’s ambulance stations spread across its 592 square mile service area. In addition to a paramedic crew that will respond to 9-1-1 emergencies, the station may house platoon leadership personnel and specialty apparatus such as utility terrain vehicles and generators. O’Fallon-based Aspire Construction was selected as the general contractor for the $3.5 million project, which is expected to be complete in spring of next year.
“The new station in Winghaven will be an important addition to our deployment strategy,” said SCCAD Chief Kelly Cope. “A combination of factors leads to high call volume in this area; having an additional unit operating from this highly advantageous position is expected to spread call volume more evenly and reduce response times.”
For patients suffering from heart-related emergencies, 77 Lifepak35 cardiac monitors will provide paramedics a host of functions to treat chest pain, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest. Among other features, the devices enable paramedics to perform and transmit 15-lead electrocardiograms (EKGs), defibrillate, and pace the heart rhythm with a high degree of specificity. In addition, the monitors are utilized to obtain vital signs; pulse rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure are among the readings collected by the devices on many 9-1-1 calls. The Lifepak devices replace the district’s decade-old monitors, which are at end of manufacturer-recommended lifespan. Total cost on the Lifepak35 purchase was $5.2 million; units will be deployed to all SCCAD units following training sessions in May.
While replacement of equipment at manufacturer-recommended intervals remains a high priority for SCCAD, the district also maintains a rigorous maintenance schedule on all durable medical equipment to ensure each piece is in proper working order and will perform as expected during emergencies.
The land acquisition, station construction, and monitor purchase were financed utilizing funds generated by Proposition Ambulance—a $70 million general obligation bond issue approved by voters in August 2018. Other 2025 capital projects funded by bonds include several new advanced life support ambulances, ambulance chassis remounts, and replacement of command staff vehicles.
“St. Charles County made an important capital investment in its emergency medical service with the approval of Prop. Ambulance,” said Cope. “These funds have and will continue to enable us to invest in infrastructure and equipment at strategic intervals, and we appreciate the public’s support in this endeavor."
