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Rock County Ambulance gets vehicle upgrades, new computers and radios

Lead Summary
By
Lori Sorenson

Sanford Luverne Medical Center recently upgraded its ambulances and computer equipment to improve patient care and emergency communication.
The upgrades include two ambulances new to Sanford Luverne.
The vehicles are both Chevy G4500s; one is a 2010 model and the other a 2016.
They were purchased from the Jackson Ambulance for $162,500 with a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health and funds from Sanford Luverne.
They replace a 2000 Ford with roughly 70,000 miles and a 2006 Dodge Sprinter with roughly 150,000 miles that were traded in for $14,000.
Not only are the ambulances newer for improved comfort, their interior layout will make emergency care more efficient, according to ambulance manager Harlan Vandekieft.
He said two laptops were also purchased for the ambulances to improve medical communication during transport.
“The laptops allow us instant access to the patient’s electronic medical record where we can input our information immediately,” Vandekieft said.
“By entering the information electronically, the accuracy of documentation is improved and records are standardized and accessed by other medical personnel much more quickly.” 
In addition, 15 emergency communication radios were purchased to increase safety and efficiency. Staff members will no longer use different radio systems to contact various emergency-related parties.
The laptops, software and training cost $13,000 and the radios cost $23,000.
The Rock County Ambulance, which responds to roughly 850 calls per year, is funded primarily by Sanford Luverne but receives some public funding from Rock County in the form a $15,000 annual contribution.
 
About Sanford Luverne
Sanford Luverne, a 25-bed critical access hospital and attached clinic in southwest Minnesota, is owned by Sanford Health, a nonprofit integrated health system headquartered in Fargo, N.D., and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Sanford Luverne has approximately 250 employees, 210 volunteers, and is served by eight family medicine physicians, a certified nurse practitioner, general surgeon and several visiting physician specialists.

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