Mercy Health is excited to offer new training opportunities for our Emergency Medical Services (EMS) partners in rural communities of Northwest Ohio, thanks to a grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The agency has awarded the health system $198,033, which will be used to support a program dedicated to mental health and substance abuse education.
“We know access to care close to home significantly impacts health outcomes for patients, and this is especially true in our rural communities. As behavioral health care needs and substance use disorder grow in northwest Ohio, it is essential that our emergency response teams have the latest training and resources at their fingertips to best care for patients,” said Bob Baxter, President, Mercy Health – Toledo. “This grant will be instrumental in expanding training opportunities for our EMS teams as they respond to behavioral health and substance use disorder calls in our rural communities.”
Through the grant, Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center, the lead agency for the Northwest Ohio EMS Consortium, will partner with Bowling Green Fire Division in Wood County, Tiffin Fire and Rescue Department in Seneca County, as well as Seneca County EMS and affiliated volunteer fire departments in Seneca County.
The goal is to strengthen the quality and consistency of training for EMS personnel in these counties by delivering basic and advanced continuing education in the areas of pediatric care, geriatric care, cardiac care, and trauma response. The training will also be responsive to the needs of the communities in which the EMS personnel serve.
“This award to Mercy Health for substance training for Emergency Medical Services in rural areas will assist Northwest Ohio communities that have been medically underserved for far too long,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. “Studies have shown a significant increase in mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, over the past three years. This HHS funding will help to ensure that first responders in rural communities have access to the support they need to address mental health issues and substance abuse they face on the job."
EMS Division Supervisor Robert DeLeon and Manda Rice with the Mercy Health Foundation were both crucial in preparing the application that helped obtain this grant. The Mercy Health paramedic education team, which consists of Joey Colley, Terrence Glaze, Colin Baney, and Martin Fuller, will also play a pivotal role in putting the grant into action by delivering this crucial training to local EMS agencies.
EMS professionals will engage in critical incident stress management training and mental health first aid training, learn best practices in administration of opioid overdose antidotes, and be trained on the care of patients with mental and substance abuse disorders. In all, around 150 EMS personnel across the area will receive training, with the goal of increasing the capacity of
rural EMS personnel to provide high quality and consistent emergency medical services in their communities.
“We know access to care close to home significantly impacts health outcomes for patients, and this is especially true in our rural communities. As behavioral health care needs and substance use disorder grow in northwest Ohio, it is essential that our emergency response teams have the latest training and resources at their fingertips to best care for patients,” said Bob Baxter, President, Mercy Health – Toledo. “This grant will be instrumental in expanding training opportunities for our EMS teams as they respond to behavioral health and substance use disorder calls in our rural communities.”
Through the grant, Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center, the lead agency for the Northwest Ohio EMS Consortium, will partner with Bowling Green Fire Division in Wood County, Tiffin Fire and Rescue Department in Seneca County, as well as Seneca County EMS and affiliated volunteer fire departments in Seneca County.
The goal is to strengthen the quality and consistency of training for EMS personnel in these counties by delivering basic and advanced continuing education in the areas of pediatric care, geriatric care, cardiac care, and trauma response. The training will also be responsive to the needs of the communities in which the EMS personnel serve.
“This award to Mercy Health for substance training for Emergency Medical Services in rural areas will assist Northwest Ohio communities that have been medically underserved for far too long,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. “Studies have shown a significant increase in mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, over the past three years. This HHS funding will help to ensure that first responders in rural communities have access to the support they need to address mental health issues and substance abuse they face on the job."
EMS Division Supervisor Robert DeLeon and Manda Rice with the Mercy Health Foundation were both crucial in preparing the application that helped obtain this grant. The Mercy Health paramedic education team, which consists of Joey Colley, Terrence Glaze, Colin Baney, and Martin Fuller, will also play a pivotal role in putting the grant into action by delivering this crucial training to local EMS agencies.
EMS professionals will engage in critical incident stress management training and mental health first aid training, learn best practices in administration of opioid overdose antidotes, and be trained on the care of patients with mental and substance abuse disorders. In all, around 150 EMS personnel across the area will receive training, with the goal of increasing the capacity of
rural EMS personnel to provide high quality and consistent emergency medical services in their communities.