New ambulance arrives at Winneshiek Medical Center

The new WMC ambulance, with WMC Ambulance Supervisor Steve Vanden Brink at the far right (Photos by decorahnews.com's Paul Scott--click on photos for larger images)

A new ambulance has arrived at Winneshiek Medical Center and is now in service.

The 2016 fully-equipped ambulance cost $208,000.  It replaces an existing ambulance and joins two other ambulances in the Winneshiek Medical Center fleet.

The new ambulance features:
•    Power Cot and Power Load – Mechanically assists paramedics with lifting patients into and out of the ambulance.  
•    Zoll X series – 12-lead EKG to determine/assess if person is having a heart attack. Capable of monitoring six vital signs in addition to the 12-lead capabilities, and transmits data back to the Emergency Department to help medical staff prepare to receive the patient.
•    InMotion Mobile Computing - Gives paramedics access to the internet and data to transmit data to receiving hospitals. Also, provides access to mobile mapping with our local dispatch center.
•    Zoll Auto Pulse - Provides manual chest compressions, which are more effective than rescuer-provided chest compressions.
•    Suction unit - Provides means of effective airway clearing.
•    Hydraulic Ride - Improves patient comfort during the ride in the ambulance.

WMC Ambulance Supervisor Steve Vanden Brink tells decorahnews.com that the hydraulic ride is an important feature of the new ambulance--not only to improve patient comfort, but to improve the ride back to the hospital.  Vanden Brink says the new ambulance "will help us provide 24/7 emergency response care to the people of our region for many years to come."

Gifts to the hospital's 2015 Annual Fund helped to pay for the new ambulance.