Grinnell’s Emergency Medical Services Now In-House

For over a decade, the city of Grinnell has explored moving from a private contract for emergency services to establishing a city-run ambulance program. Now, two years ahead of schedule, the Grinnell Fire Department operates a city-run ambulance service providing advanced life support services to the surrounding area, thanks to years of planning, a strong locally-based staff, and the support of many community organizations and individuals.   

Under the prior ambulance system which operated through a private contract, Grinnell did not have official EMS (Emergency Medical Services) staff of its own, and Grinnell firefighters were sometimes called to provide back-up coverage for the ambulance service in situations when multiple calls needed to be covered.  The new city-based structure builds on this longstanding experience of the fire department with new EMS leadership and staff. In January of 2023, Patrick Duffey joined the team as EMS administrator and assistant fire chief, serving under the leadership of Grinnell Fire Chief Dan Sicard. A licensed paramedic with ten years of paramedic experience, Duffey came to Grinnell after eight years with the Mason City Fire Department, where he served as acting lieutenant and provided firefighting and EMS assistance.    

Dedicated Staff

Twelve full-time employees now staff the expanded department, with three on shift at a time. All department staff serve as firefighters, with some also certified as EMTs (offering basic life support), and others certified as paramedics (offering advanced life support). The department also depends on the dedicated commitment of volunteer firefighters. In 2023, 21 volunteer firefighters helped the department respond to emergency calls.  

Essential Equipment

Another essential step in establishing a local EMS service for the citizens of Grinnell and surrounding areas was the funding for two ambulances.  Like many local initiatives, establishing a city-run ambulance service relied on strong community partnerships and cooperation.  To get the service off the ground, the city first purchased two used vehicles while two new ambulances were placed on order. The department plans to have two fully equipped ambulances in service by August of this year and will keep one of the older vehicles on hand available for rotation if needed. Each new ambulance will be custom-equipped for local community needs, including LUCAS devices to assist staff with CPR response. The LUCAS chest compression system delivers consistent, high-quality chest compressions which benefits first responders and patients alike. In the future, Duffey said they hope to purchase another LUCAS device for the third unit as well. Contributions from public and private partners helped to make the vehicle and equipment purchases a reality. The department received $388,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding through Poweshiek County, another $250,000 from Grinnell College, $60,000 from the Grinnell Mutual Group Foundation, $30,733 from the Gary Sinise Foundation, and $20,000 from Poweshiek County Alliance. Patrick Duffey said that “With those generous gifts and grants, our costs for the two ambulances and equipment are largely covered.”  

Grinnell’s new locally-operated fire and EMS services have already served the community well. In 2023, the department responded to 874 calls, including 62 fire calls, 589 rescue calls, and 223 other calls. Sicard said, “Our current staff are a part of the community we protect, they are compassionate and dedicated to taking care of Grinnell. Having local staff also allows the formation of a team with firefighting training, EMS training, or both, that creates flexibility and can adapt to community needs.”