MEDIC EMS was founded in 1982 as a paramedic ambulance service by two hospitals St. Luke's and Mercy. MEDIC EMS began operations at the former St. Luke's Hospital (now Genesis East) and the crews operated out of the east garage. In 1986 Davenport Osteopathic (Trinity North Medical Center) became part of the corporation. In 1999 representatives from Scott County and the Cities of Davenport and Bettendorf joined the Board of Directors. MEDIC EMS has since grown to 140 employees serving in four divisions, which include the Paramedic Division, the Transportation Division, the Eldridge and LeClaire Alternative Delivery Models, and MED-COM. With an annual operating budget of $8 million, MEDIC EMS covers a primary service area of approximately 660 square miles.
With a service area of over 300,000 residents, MEDIC EMS responds to 70 calls each day, totaling 26,000 calls in 2009. MEDIC EMS Paramedic Ambulance Service operates with 18 ambulances and four supervisor/disaster vehicles, working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Over 60 Paramedics and 25 EMT’s make up the two-person crews, which respond to calls at a Paramedic Specialist level. MEDIC EMS received a 5-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) for its compliance with national standards of excellence in 1996 and was reaccredited in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. Although accreditation is a common practice in many domains, it is very new to the ambulance service industry. MEDIC EMS became only the 52nd ambulance service in the country to successfully complete the voluntary review process, which included completion of a comprehensive application and on-site review by national experts in the field of emergency medical services (EMS). With this achievement, MEDIC EMS became the first CAAS accredited ambulance service to be accredited in the States of Iowa and Illinois. MEDIC EMS began Critical Care Transports in 2007 to respond to the needs of the community for a higher level of ambulance transport. Critical Care Paramedics enables facilities to confidently transport critical care patients without depleting their own clinical resources. The newest clinical improvement is the start of the Hypothermia treatment for cardiac arrest patients. This cooling treatment improves cardiac arrest patient outcomes. In July of 2010 MEDIC EMS had the first patient that was released from the hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest and responded well to the hypothermic treatment.
To respond to the growing needs of our rural communities, MEDIC EMS explores viable options that provide the availability of effective emergency medical care. In 1999 MEDIC EMS built the Eldridge Alternative Delivery Model (ADM) in Eldridge, Iowa and in January of 2001 began the LeClaire ADM in LeClaire, Iowa. The ADM pairs a full-time paramedic with an area volunteer to provide the rural communities with high quality, round the clock Paramedic Specialist ambulance service.
Tracking emergency calls, scheduled transfers, and all vehicle activity, MED-COM plays a central role in the delivery of quality patient care by MEDIC EMS in the Quad City area. Beginning operation on June 19, 1995, MED-COM operates 24-hours daily, receiving calls and dispatching vehicles. With approximately 26,000 annual ambulance calls alone received each year, it is essential to have control over the movement of these vehicles at all times. System Status Controllers (SSC’s), who are specially trained for the intensity of this area, operate MED-COM. MED-COM implemented Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD) in 1997, providing this service in the cities of Bettendorf and Davenport Iowa. Accordingly, all SSC’s are EMD certified to provide pre-arrival instructions to all 9-1-1 callers. A Computer Aided Dispatch program (CAD) aids the system status controllers in keeping track of all vehicles at all times. MED-COM dispatches ambulances for Illini Hospital and gives pre-arrival instructions to the communities of Silvis, East Moline, and Northern Rock Island County in Illinois. MED-FORCE Helicopter is also dispatched through MED-COM who tracks the flight path of the aero-medical transport whenever they fly.
MEDIC EMS is strongly committed to the evolving needs of the community. We provide many programs that enhance the quality of life in the Eastern Iowa/ Western Illinois area.
- Mikey Medic program – A community school education program that in 2009 visited 25 schools and talked with over 2,000 children about calling 9-1-1 and what to do in emergencies.
- Eldridge ADM Permanent Car Seat Fit Station – Since June of 1999, MEDIC EMS has held a monthly free car seat check. Over 500 Child Safety Seats have been checked and any defective or recalled seats have been replaced at no charge.
- Bike Medic – This program is a volunteer program of MEDIC EMS employees. Funded by MEDIC EMS, volunteer paramedics ride Davenports bike paths and administer emergency medical care to anyone sick or injured. The Bike Medics rode over 1400 miles in 2001.
- LeClaire CPR Saturday - MEDIC EMS holds a community CPR class once per month in our LeClaire ADM station.
- Senior Voice Committee (A city of Davenport committee) - MEDIC EMS has been on the Board of Directors of the Senior Voice Committee since its inception in 1999. MEDIC EMS has been heavily involved in the File of Life program. Over 24,000 seniors in Scott County have received a file of life to enhance their medical treatment.
- Community Disaster Planning and Disaster Drills
Looking to the future, MEDIC EMS will move MED-COM into the Scott Emergency Communications Center in 2011 to co-locate with the other PSAPs of Scott County.