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Office of Communications Gwen Campbell Media, Community & Education Relations Tel. 318.673.5062 / Fax: 318.673.5087 gwen.campbell@shreveportla.gov | ||
In an afternoon press conference TODAY, Willis-Knighton’s CEO Jim Elrod will present a $300,000 gift to Shreveport Mayor Cedric B. Glover to support the SFD’s EMS SPRINT program. [Click here for Press Release Picture(s)] | SPRINT is the acronym for Single Paramedic Rapid Intervention Non-Transport was implemented on January 1, 2010 by Fire Chief Brian Crawford in an effort to provide the City greater Emergency Medical Services coverage. Since being introduced, the SPRINT vehicle has responded to 226 calls -187 calls in January and 39, to date, in February. | The program allows two trained fire professionals from strategically assigned fire stations to respond to non-transport emergency calls; the participating stations were identified by Department because of their high call volume. | The Department has been operating the program using an older model vehicle and salvaged equipment. However, Willis-Knighton’s gift will allow the Department to purchase three new fully equipped units with new emergency medical equipment such as EKG monitors, Autopulse or automatic CPR machines, Mobile Data computers, and mobile and portable radios. The goal of this partnership is to have these vehicles operational within the next 90 days. | “Since the announcement of this generous donation, the energy within the department has been palpable - and very exciting to be a part of. Willis-Knighton’s partnership will allow the SFD to thrust forward in our service delivery and EMS response time while managing costs and tax-payer dollars,” according to Chief Crawford. | On behalf of the members of the Shreveport City Council and the citizens of this City I sincerely thank Willis Knighton Health Systems and its leader Mr. Jim Elrod for this most generous donation and for the unwavering and ever constant support that you've given over the years," said Mayor Glover. "Not only will this assist the Shreveport Fire Department in its mission of saving lives, the new SPRINT Initiative will provide a significant fiscal savings and better use of staffing." | Statement from Jim Elrod, President/CEO of Willis Knighton Health System | “When Chief Crawford approached Willis-Knighton with a request to purchase a Sprint vehicle to support quicker emergency medical response for the citizens of Shreveport, we realized that this was a project we should not simply support but embrace wholeheartedly. Willis-Knighton is pledging to fund acquisition of seven Sprint vehicles at a cost of $100,000 per vehicle as the fire department phases in this program over the next few years. Three of the vehicles will be funded immediately. | We do this for several reasons: | First, as a locally-owned and operated health system, we have a vested interest in continuously improving the health and well-being of the people we serve, which is our mission statement. | Second, we believe that this will provide greater efficiency for the EMS personnel who are responding to emergency calls. Like many of you, I have wondered for years why fire engines and ladder trucks had to go to every call for medical support. This new program will reduce fuel and vehicle maintenance costs, thereby maximizing efficiency. We applaud Chief Crawford’s efforts to seek a more efficient way of handling this service. | Third, as a healthcare provider we understand just how important emergency response is. Because we operate four emergency rooms and two urgent care centers, we know that it’s important to have emergency response vehicles and support services where they are most convenient to the population. In fact, this is the model we used as we located Willis-Knighton South, WK Pierremont, WK Bossier and our urgent care centers which have brought emergency health service within 7 to 8 minutes of most residents. | Finally, I want to emphasize that this gift to the Shreveport Fire Department and to the Citizens of Shreveport comes with two provisos. First, we want to assure that, when appropriate to the medical condition, the fire department will continue to transport people to the hospital of their choice. And second, we request that the city council not deduct the value of this contribution from the fire department’s budget. Our citizens depend on the crucial safety and emergency response services provided by this department, and we believe it is important that budgeted programs and projects continue to be fully funded.” | -SHREVEPORT- |
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