OLD FORGE — Old Forge Volunteer Ambulance Corps, in partnership with Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS), has received a $400,000 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) for rural emergency medical services training in Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison counties. The grant spans two years and the purpose of the program is […]
OLD FORGE — Old Forge Volunteer Ambulance Corps, in partnership with Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS), has received a $400,000 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) for rural emergency medical services training in Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison counties. The grant spans two years and the purpose of the program is to recruit and train EMS personnel in rural areas. Training will begin in 2025 and be available in person, online, and through virtual/augmented reality programming with a focus on substance abuse and mental-health issues. “The goal is to address service gaps and enhance the delivery of emergency medical services,” Danielle Hoepfl, chief of the Old Forge Volunteer Ambulance Corps, said in a news release announcing the grant. “The need for comprehensive training and technical assistance for EMS staff serving rural areas within Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison counties is imperative.” While the year-round population of towns like Webb, Forestport, Boonville, Inlet, and Raquette Lake total about 7,500, the number can surge to 30,000 or more during peak tourist seasons, adding strain to the health-care system and emergency services in those areas. From 2019-2023, data from Public-Safety Answering Points 911 centers show an increase in call volume of 13.54 percent in Herkimer County, 20.57 percent in Oneida County, and 31.96 percent in Madison County. “As a committed partner, we will work with Old Forge Volunteer Ambulance Corps to plan, develop, and implement the EMS training program,” MVHS CEO/President Darlene Stromstad said. “Our expertise in education and health care will be leveraged to assist with the design of the curriculum, training modules, and evaluation frameworks tailored to meet the unique needs of rural EMS providers and communities.”