PC EMTs working to become essential service

In the United States, only 11 states have made Emergency Medical Services an essential service. In coordination with Emergency Medical providers across the state, Phillips County EMT Coordinator Rhei Tharp is working to change this in Montana.

All EMS personnel are licensed by their respective states, and report to a Board of Medical Examiners made up of medical professionals. EMR’s, EMTs, AEMTs, and Paramedics make up this system of prehospital care. EMS services throughout the state of Montana are either a paid service, volunteer service, or a little bit of both.

Montana is 147,040 square mi...