METHOW VALLEY HOME HEALTH AGENCY
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Mission Statement
Aero Methow Rescue Service provides excellent out of hospital emergency medical care and transportation for the Methow Valley, and promotes injury prevention and well-being through education.
About This Cause
Methow Valley Home Health Agency is the parent corporation of Aero Methow Rescue Service (AMRS) and is the sole Advanced Life Support Emergency Medical Service (EMS) provider in the Methow Valley located in North Central Washington State. The population is economically and demographically diverse. The Methow Valley is located on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains in Washington state, separated by a large designated wilderness area 35 miles south of Canada and east of the North Cascades National Park. The Methow Valley is rural, remote, geographically isolated and has limited healthcare resources. AMRS is staffed with part paid/part volunteer responders with a mix of Paramedic, Advanced and Basic Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMT and EMT) and Emergency Medical Responders (EMR). There are 2 Family Practice clinics in the valley, 10 miles apart, one in Winthrop and one in Twisp. The clinics are open and staffed 5 days a week from 8-5. They do not provide after-hours or weekend care. AMRS responds to healthcare needs/requests from the community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To best care for our citizens there is an expanding and highly functional communication network with a variety of healthcare providers, now known as “Community Paramedicine”. AMRS and the community rely heavily on volunteer EMS responders. Funding is not adequate to support full-time workforce of paid responders. AMRS faces the same challenges as other EMS providers in the nation such as reimbursement below cost and escalating expenses. There is not a hospital or skilled nursing facility in our service area, therefore we do not provide interfacility transports. AMRS provides 911 ambulance service only. More than 50% of the 911 requests result in a non-transport to the hospital and the current payment schedule does not reimburse for treat and refer (response, evaluate and no transport). The 2 critical access hospital in Okanogan County are approximately 1 hour from the center of our response area. A transport to one of the hospitals commits a volunteer responder to being away from their job or home for at least 3 hours from the initial call until the ambulance is put back in service. The nearest tertiary hospital is 100 miles away in Wenatchee and involves a minimum 5-hour time commitment. The requirements of volunteer EMS responders is extensive. They must take an initial EMS training course (EMR or EMT), respond on emergency requests and maintain their certification to meet the requirements of the National Registry, State of Washington and AMRS. They must also be trained in agency, county and regional policies, procedures and protocols. Their training expands to meet needs in our community such as recreational injuries in remote and inaccessible areas, concussion protocols specific to school sports, hostile environment (active shooter), wildland fire medical standby, recreational standby at events, and the current coronavirus pandemic. We have a relatively low call volume (approximately 700/year) which requires the responders to be well trained in a variety of low frequency/high acuity responses. Hence, a broad range of high quality and realistic training is critical. AMRS believes in and strives to reach the overarching goals of the Quadruple Aim which focuses on- improving patient health, increasing patient satisfaction, decreasing healthcare cost and improving responder wellbeing. We highly value our responders and not only provide training but recognize and appreciate the importance of tending to their mental health and overall wellness.