Augusta EMT training aims to combat shortage of ambulance staff

Augusta, Montana, held an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training on Oct. 28 to combat a shortage of ambulance staff and emergency volunteers across Teton and Lewis and Clark counties. The initiative aims to certify new responders to reduce wait times for residents in Choteau, Dutton, Fairfield, Power, and Pendroy, who often rely on crews from neighboring towns when local services are unavailable.

The gap in staffing means that in some instances, the only available help is coming from miles away.

The Hour-Long Gap to Survival

For a resident of Augusta experiencing a heart attack, the distance to a major hospital is a minimum 55-mile drive. That translates to a full hour of transit. Suzi Taylor, who helped plan the training, notes that the difference between surviving such an event and not doing so often depends on whether the patient is in a private vehicle or an ambulance equipped with radios, medical gear, and trained technicians.

The reality of rural EMS is that “ideal” response times are often a fantasy. Deb Coverdell, director of Teton County EMS and DES, admits that rural communities will always struggle with these metrics. Coverdell points out that a larger pool of volunteers would relieve the immense pressure on the small handful of responders who currently handle 90% of all calls.

“In rural areas we unfortunately will always struggle with ideal response times but to have someone simply respond at all even if delayed is the best situation then not having anyone at all,” Coverdell said.

Taylor explains that even when a crew exists on paper, “life happens”—illness, surgery, or work commitments can leave a town effectively without coverage at the exact moment a 911 call comes in.

Lack of Essential Service Status Limits EMS Funding

There is a widespread public assumption that ambulance services are funded by local taxes, but the financial architecture of rural EMS is far more fragile. In most counties and states, including Lewis and Clark County, ambulance and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are not classified as “essential services.”

Because they aren’t “essential,” government entities are not required to fund the basic tools of the trade, such as training or the radios used to communicate with dispatchers and ER physicians. While Teton County utilizes a mix of taxes, grants, and insurance payments, the Augusta service relies on grants and a private donor.

Taylor recalls a specific instance where poor radio equipment nearly cost a man his life. Because the county isn’t mandated to provide replacements, the funding for new radios must be sought through grants—grants that are written by the same unpaid volunteers who are already working the calls.

EMT Roles Demand High Mental Stamina and Sacrifice

Becoming an EMT in a place like Teton County requires more than just a certification; it requires a specific temperament. The training, led by experienced EMT/trainer Aaron Birkholz of Lincoln, prepares students for the national certification test, but the job itself demands “strong stomachs” and high mental stamina.

These responders are asked to operate under extreme pressure, often waking up in the middle of the night in 20-below weather, sacrificing family time with little to no financial reimbursement. Taylor describes this as a “high level, specialized and very rewarding volunteer job” that requires a deep sense of community commitment.

The current strategy is to treat the region as one large, interconnected community. Because crews from Augusta, Choteau, Fairfield, and Simms frequently respond to each other’s calls, the training is open to all these areas to create a shared safety net.

Training Sessions Aim to Increase Rural Responder Numbers

Oct. 28: EMR class informational meeting at the Power EMS Station at 6 p.m.
Dec. 17: Informational meeting for January EMT training at the Choteau Annex at 6:30 p.m.

The goal for the current cohort is simple: pass the national test and join a local crew. For rural communities like those in Teton and Lewis and Clark counties, having more responders can improve response times, as having someone respond even if delayed is better than having no one at all.

As Coverdell puts it, the willingness to undergo this training is about removing the feeling of helplessness. “I would rather have taken the training to be prepared than just hope I never am faced with a situation I feel helpless in.”

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