Malta EMS receives funding from Cares Act

The Phillips County Ambulance Service announces that they are to receive much-needed equipment through the Stryker Corporation thanks to the Montana CARES Act. The CARES Act is funded through $1.25 billion in federal emergency relief funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Rhei Tharp, P.C. Ambulance Coordinator, explained that he had received a call from a representative of the Stryker Corporation. "He told me that there was a lot of money out there that the state needed to spend, and that other services around the state had gotten approval. He had me put together a "wish list" of equipment that we wanted or needed. I had a pretty large wish list, just because I want the best for our county." 

Thanks to the Stryker Corporation, the Montana Cares Act, and Tharp's hard work, Malta is set to receive a new power load cot system for each ambulance, a new life pack, and a few other items for the ambulances, as well as four new AEDs (automated external defibrillators). "The AEDs will go out to places in the community, so if someone does go down due to a cardiac condition, they can be helped even before we arrive. Those places that do get them will also be trained on how to use the equipment," Tharp noted. 

After submitting it to the state with a grand total of what the equipment would be worth, Tharp says he held his breath and waited, and when the approval came in, "I did an extravagant happy dance." The grand total of funding comes to $366,944. 00.

Tharp states that there is a small catch. "To fully get this money, we have to have the equipment on our rigs and in service by December 30th. Tharp is working with will be working with Stryker to get everything shipped and installed over the next few weeks. "The state is wanting this to be a reimbursement deal," he said. "I told them we don't have that kind of money to spend, no service does. Stryker is working with us to make sure that we get this money for the equipment, and we expect to receive some of it by the end of the week." 

When asked if there is anything the community can do to help out, Tharp just grinned and said, "Pray!" I think we can all agree that prayers of gratitude to Tharp, our very hardworking volunteer EMS crew, the Stryker Corp, and the Montana Cares Act will be abundant throughout Phillips County this month.