Earlier this year, the Forum reported on Norwood Fire Chief John Bockrath’s trip to DC to discuss rural EMS with legislators. Then, Bockrath said he hoped EMS would eventually be designated an “essential service.” In May, Colorado state legislators unanimously passed HB26-1238, which establishes EMS as an essential service statewide. The bill went into effect Aug. 12.
Bockrath spoke with the Forum regarding the new legislation. He said prior to the bill, municipalities and counties were not required to provide EMS. The passing of the bill makes EMS essential, just like law enforcement and fire departments, which opens up new funding opportunities.
“We have gotten some small grants … I have a feeling they will get larger now,” said Bockrath.
Bockrath said the designation is the result of 25 years of effort by EMS agencies. In the past, agencies sought funding from the government but were denied. They were told they needed to prove the work they were doing was essential. He said over the two decades since, EMS agencies have implemented quality improvement and adjustments, and kept records of their work.
“It’s taken 20 to 25 years to prove what we’re doing is essential,” said Bockrath.
When he spoke to the Forum earlier this year, Bockrath shared concerns about funding for EMS mostly staying in larger cities such as Denver. Now, he says being considered an essential service may help prevent that.
“I think it’ll give us more of a chance,” said Bockrath.
Nucla-Naturita Fire/EMS Public Information Officer Jeff Stephens told the Forum the legislation is “long overdue,” but added that it doesn’t have a whole lot of impact until a disaster occurs.
He said certain areas of health care were considered essential during COVID, such as hospitals, but EMS was not considered as such. Stephens said during COVID, EMS “kind of proved” that it is essential.
“I hope it’ll have a good, positive impact,” said Stephens of the designation.
He hopes the bill makes securing funding easier.
“Money’s always the big problem,” he added.
About previous funding primarily staying in big cities, Stephens agreed with Bockrath. He, too, thinks the designation may help get funding into rural communities.
Longtime local Carol Fernandez cared for her father, Robert Murphy, in her home for years until his passing from cancer. When he first became ill, Fernandez had to call on EMS nearly twice a month for an extended period of time.
“They really do care. They have huge hearts,” said Fernandez.
She stressed that a lot of EMS workers in the area have full-time jobs in addition to their EMS duties.
Fernandez, who lives in Redvale, said her dad often worried about response times due to their remote location.
“Norwood’s response time was amazing,” said Fernandez.
She said help arrived 15-20 minutes after she called, whether it was an ambulance, or an EMS worker in their personal vehicle who heard the call come through and came to offer help until the ambulance arrived.
Fernandez remembered an occasion when she was working in Telluride and got a call from Murphy, who said he wasn’t feeling well. She urged him to call emergency services. Eventually, he did. Norwood EMS took him to Montrose Regional Health, who airlifted him to a hospital in Colorado Springs. His gallbladder had ruptured. After one and a half weeks in the hospital, Murphy was able to return home to recover. Fernandez said if Norwood EMS had not acted as quickly as they did, the situation would’ve had a much worse outcome.
Fernandez was shocked to learn that EMS wasn’t already designated an essential service in Colorado. To her, it’s been essential for years.
