Working on expanding EMS to help rural Iowa

For 15 years, I served as a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT) in my hometown of Hull. From responding to emergencies to transporting patients to local hospitals, my time with the Hull Ambulance Service was both informative and eye-opening. To this day, my passion for preserving and expanding emergency medical services (EMS) in our rural communities stems from my experiences as a volunteer EMT.

However, alongside current obstacles like a lack of funding and volunteers, rural EMS faces looming challenges in the years ahead. During a recent EMS roundtable that I held in Sidney, Iowa, volunteer EMTs and local law enforcement officials reiterated their concerns over the dire condition of emergency services in rural Iowa. I share these same concerns, which are extremely valid.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration, the United States is expected to face a shortage of 42,000 emergency medical personnel by 2030. That’s just six years to fill this massive gap, and it will require action by Congress to keep these services operational for years to come.

During my 15 years of service, I saw firsthand the importance of reliable access to emergency medical services in rural Iowa. EMTs – many of whom are volunteers and refuse a paycheck – respond to medical emergencies, accidents, and many other life-threatening situations, administering professional, lifesaving care and expecting no recognition in return. I also witnessed the high levels of burnout and complete exhaustion that accompany this thankless role. A survey conducted by the American Ambulance Association in 2022 found that, nationally, turnover for paramedics and EMTs can range between 25% and 45% every year. Many EMTs also sustain injuries on the job and require treatment. As such, I believe that these folks deserve our utmost gratitude and deepest support for their tireless work and sacrifices on behalf of our rural communities.

Coupling my appreciation with legislative action, I recently helped introduce the Preserve Access to Rapid Ambulance Emergency Medical Treatment Act or the PARA-EMT Act for short. This legislation would help our rural communities recruit, train, and retain paramedics, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians. More specifically, it would establish a grant program – through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – to support the men and women devoting their time and talent to protecting our communities and fund vital emergency medical services for our families. I also want to emphasize that this bill requires at least 20% of the approved grants to be deployed to small towns and rural areas, which ensures that our communities receive our fair share of tax dollars from the federal government. Surely, if we pay taxes, we deserve to see those dollars reinvested here at home.

The PARA-EMT Act would further call upon the U.S. Secretary of Labor and the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a thorough survey on the state of emergency medical surveys nationwide – especially in rural communities – and provide a full report to Congress. This review will inform our work at the federal level to ensure that our volunteer EMTs have the resources that they need to perform their duties to the best of their ability, care for those in need, and save lives.

I’m excited that this legislation will help our rural communities recruit qualified medical personnel, train new paramedics and EMTs, and retain these heroes who face higher levels of burnout and stress. As Iowa’s voice in Congress, I will continue to advocate for greater investments in our rural emergency medical services to keep our families safe and our communities secure.  

This op-ed was originally published in the Northwest Iowa Review on February 23, 2024.