PVHC gets a new, more affordable ride

Posted 2/23/21

In purchasing a new vehicle, Powell Valley Healthcare officials say they’ve found a way to save their patients and the community some money. 

The ambulances at PVHC put on a lot of …

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PVHC gets a new, more affordable ride

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In purchasing a new vehicle, Powell Valley Healthcare officials say they’ve found a way to save their patients and the community some money. 

The ambulances at PVHC put on a lot of miles. The EMTs and paramedics do a lot of transporting to and from other facilities, from Billings to Casper. With long stretches of highways between facilities in this rural part of the country, it’s a lot of driving. It’s also a lot of gas and maintenance for the vehicles. 

The Powell hospital needed to add another vehicle to its fleet, but rather than get a standard ambulance, leaders went for a sprinter van. 

Unlike the standard diesel-powered ambulances, the sprinter van is gas-powered. While it’s narrower by a couple feet, it has all the capabilities of an ambulance. It’s also all-wheel drive, has a wider field of view and gets about twice the mileage. 

Best of all, it’s a much more smoother and quieter ride, which can be a lot nicer for the patients. 

“It’s really a patient satisfier,” said June Minchow, director of emergency and critical care services at PVHC. 

Besides the savings on mileage, the vehicle is also cheaper to maintain and costs roughly 60% less than a standard ambulance. Of the $94,110 purchase price, the State Loan and Investment Board kicked in a grant to cover $47,055 of that. 

“So far everyone really likes it,” said Scott Bagnell, emergency medical services and emergency room manager. 

It’s got a few features for the EMTs and paramedics as well, such as seat belts that allow them to reach the patient and supplies. Should there be an accident, the seat belts retract to keep the workers safe. 

The hospital received the van Dec. 18, which was then painted, decaled, and licensed. Its first transport was on Jan. 21. Since that time, PVHC personnel have put over 4,100 miles on it. 

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