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Feature 9-1-1: Calling All EMS Personnel By Jennifer Ryan Cities across North America face growing pressure from their citizens to provide quick and effective emergency aid. Add to that a burgeoning population of unprecedented proportion, and North Dakota’s towns and cities are feeling the pressure more than most. If populations rise and the medical infrastructure is inadequately equipped to handle the growth, an increase is also seen in the average wait times for medical procedures, emergency room wait periods and response time by emergency vehicles. North Dakota faces the seemingly insurmountable challenge of serving its growing population while keeping these wait times in check. A commitment from the state On November 13, 2013, the Board of University and School Lands (Land Board) awarded $12.2 million in Energy Impact Grant funds to help fund enhancements for emergency services and fire districts throughout the state’s 20 oil and gas producing counties. “These grants are an important part of a larger state commitment to help the oil and gas region meet the challenges created by rapid growth,” says Gov. Jack Dalrymple, chairman of the five-member state Land Board. “The Energy Impact Grant Fund allows us to address a wide range of challenges 92
ut we must always be prepared to adapt our response to help meet the region’s dynamic and ever-changing needs.” Approximately $7 million of that allotment is earmarked for rural fire districts, while the remaining $5.2 million is to be used to enhance the region’s emergency medical services. What about the workers? From the citizens’ perspective, the major concern is that the quality of emergency services will decline. The Energy Impact Grant funds will provide significant aid in this area. However, another problem that must also be solved comes from the opposing perspective: how are those workers who are providing the emergency service faring? While they work over-time to ensure patient care and emergency calls are attended to, their own well-being could be in jeopardy. Among emergency personnel, “our main concern is burnout,” says McKenzie County Commissioner Ron Anderson. He and Kerry Krikava, the county’s ambulance leader, along with members of the North Dakota Association of Oil & Gas Producing Counties, met in December 2013, following the Land Board’s announcements, to discuss this and other issues facing the medical services force due to the rapid population growth in the region. Anderson expressed that the meeting was a great opportunity to discuss the issues that matter to the state. Though he is optimistic that a plan can be put into place to tackle the problems that North Dakota faces, population growth has resulted in some numbers that are very concerning for the state—now, and in the future. For example, the emergency room at one hospital currently sees about 500 patients in one month. Five-hundred is more on-pace with the number of patients a busy mid-sized city hospital would see. In 2011—before the population boom— that same hospital’s average was 10 or 11 patients in a month. In just over two years, this hospital has had to handle 50 times its usual capacity. It is an isolated case, but without imminent change, this hospital’s experience could become the norm. Medical and emergency services around the state are experiencing similar challenges. Without some major changes taking place, two years is not enough time to adapt to such rapid growth and still be able to provide exceptional patient care. “In just over two years, this hospital has had to handle 50 times its usual capacity. It is an isolated case, but without imminent change, this hospital’s experience could become the norm. Looking for a long-term solution One solution that’s been floated is to set up another service station in a region like Alexander, ND. “It’s an under-served area,” says Anderson. Setting up there would alleviate some of the demand experienced by emergency personnel in surrounding regions. At first glance, this seems like an ideal solution, particularly after factoring in the grant money allocated from the Energy Impact fund. Each new station would cost one million dollars per year to operate. “For one year, grant money can easily cover it, but that’s not the problem,” says Anderson. “What about next year?” New service stations would then be relied upon as a necessary part of the network of emergency care, but it would also struggle for funding year after year. It is not a viable or long-term solution, even though it may look good in the very short-term. “We would be better served by a transfer service,” says Anderson. “The present ambulance squad would be able to handle it.” Sparsely populated states like Wyoming and Montana have similar systems in place. “We’re not creating something brand new here in the United States. This exists elsewhere.” Now, the plan is to leverage off those established practices to build something sustainable here in North Dakota. Anderson maintains that a strong community-centred focus will be key to continued success with emergency services. The Community Wellness Centre in Watford City has been open for two years. It was “a super success based on community support, and it was a nice addition to the community,” says Anderson. He hopes to emulate that success with the new McKenzie County hospital. The new hospital, combined with a medical facility and clinic will also have a nursing home attached to it. They will be breaking ground in the spring of 2014. The hospital was funded entirely by public community support, the oilfields, private funding from banks of North Dakota and the USDA. Sizeable donations allow donors to name a portion of the hospital, which helped boost funds. BASIN BITS | Spring 2014 93
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Spring 2014 BASIN BITS The Official
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Spring 2014 Table of Contents BASIN
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Opening Remarks From the Desk of th
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ADVERTORIAL
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Opening Remarks From the Desk of th
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Opening Remarks A Message from the
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A Message from Ryan Rauschenberger,
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Special Section Expo Opens & Ice Br
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Special Section Bruce Hicks, assist
Page 41: through a power turbine that turns
Page 46 and 47: A Closer Look Shale Showdown: In th
Page 49 and 50: By Paul Adair In terms of oil and g
Page 51: industry demand and a shortage of f
Page 54 and 55: 54 The Official Publication of the
Page 56 and 57: Feature Keeping a Nose to the Groun
Page 58 and 59: Nicholson agrees. “The clients ar
Page 63 and 64: Feature Pooling Data: The Bakken’
Page 65: “The chemical part of the technol
Page 68 and 69: Trivia Time Water Usage for Frackin
Page 71: “Rotary dryers are the most prove
Page 77 and 78: The EERC has been doing research on
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Page 83 and 84: a letter acknowledging the funding
Page 85 and 86: By Darla Read When Shawn Kessel bec
Page 88 and 89: Feature Landowner Rights Rise to th
Page 90: Trivia Time Investment Inklings •
Page 95 and 96: Feature On the Road Again By Paul A
Page 97 and 98: economic growth, we do have leverag
Page 99 and 100: Already equipped with some of the m
Page 101 and 102: Feature By the Numbers By Andrea Da
Page 103 and 104: Trivia Time Six Facts About ND Oil
Page 105 and 106: North Dakota lignite mines work har
Page 107 and 108: membership agreement on October 28,
Page 109 and 110: By Kim Babij-Gesell It’s a pretty
Page 111 and 112: I understand there are a few more t
Page 113 and 114: The Bakken Area Program Management
Page 115: “The association provides a vital
Page 118 and 119: In the Spotlight Hart Energy: Focus
Page 120 and 121: Continued from page 119 for field t
Page 122 and 123: 122 The Official Publication of th
Page 124 and 125: Four Bears Bridge is an historic pr
Page 128 and 129: Discussing Industry Study, County R
Page 130 and 131: Housing Conference Emphasizes Need
Page 134 and 135: Trivia Time ND’s Export Market No
Page 136 and 137: Wilden Pro-Flo® SHIFT significant
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14. Slawson Exploration Co. Inc. Oi
Page 144 and 145:
Buyer’s Guide Air Compressor Syst
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Oilfield Equipment Services & Solut
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