TRAVERSE CITY. — The city’s fire department needs to hire eight more trained paramedics before it can launch independent emergency transport services this summer, officials said Monday.
EMS Administrator Kathryn Dunklow told city commissioners the department is targeting 30 total staff members — 10 individuals per shift across three shifts — to operate the voter-approved service fully.
life-saving
“We need eight more trained staff members,” Dunklow said after Monday’s study session. The department currently has 17 licensed firefighter-paramedics on staff, with two more expected to graduate from paramedic training this month.
While applications have come in, Dunklow acknowledged recruitment has been slower than hoped.
“We’ve seen some applications. Not as many as we would like, but we are hopeful that given the improved contract, we will get more applications as time goes on,” she said, referring to a collective bargaining agreement approved by commissioners in December.
One candidate has already accepted a conditional job offer, Dunklow said. She estimated that if the department receives two applicants every month and a half on average, it would take about six months to reach full staffing.
The timeline could be complicated by training requirements. The department only hires at the firefighter-EMT level at minimum, and new hires without paramedic credentials face a lengthy process.
“It can take anywhere from a month to eight months to get them into an accredited paramedic program,” Dunklow said. “And from there, a paramedic program can take anywhere from a year to a year and a half, up to two years, depending on the program they’re enrolled in.”
Even after completing paramedic training, new hires need additional certification to operate within the city’s medical control authority, a process that can take 90 days or longer.
Hiring trained paramedics significantly speeds up the onboarding process, Dunklow noted.
The expanded service builds on emergency medical capabilities the fire department already provides. Traverse City resident Larry Gersbacher experienced that firsthand during a recent medical emergency.
“I was watching TV at 8:30 one evening. I had a feeling go up my chest, and I told my wife she better call 911,” Gersbacher said. “Fantastic people. Chief has done an awesome, awesome job training his people and providing a service that to me was life-saving.”
Traverse City voters approved a 20-year millage in November 2023 to fund the emergency transportation service. The city has since purchased two new ambulances and hired Dunklow as EMS administrator.
Once fully operational, the service will give the city direct control over emergency medical transport with dedicated personnel.
“We’ll have full control of our transport and our personnel, quality personnel that are dedicated to the city that are going to be here for our residents,” Dunklow said. “We’re really excited to be able to transport our people and make sure that they get the care that they need.”
Until the city’s service launches, Traverse City continues using MMR for emergency medical transport.
“We have been really, really grateful to MMR for transporting our people while we get up and running,” Dunklow said. “We’re ready to take the next step.”