Matthew Bouthilet, Supervisor of Ambulance Operations for River Falls, spoke about the recent changes in ambulance operations for the River Falls and the surrounding area. He has been an Operations Supervisor for Allina Health EMS for five years and a paramedic with Allina Health EMS for 19 years and in EMS for 24 years. He provided an overview of the ambulance and EMS service, which is connected to Allina but is independent of the River Falls Area Hospital, serving it as well as the surrounding area.
Their mission: “Allina is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A not-for-profit health care system, Allina Health cares for individuals from beginning to end-of-life. We serve our communities by providing exceptional care, as we help prevent illness, restore health and provide comfort to all who trust us with their care.”
Allina has over 100 clinics providing primary and urgent care every day as well as hospital-based at 11 hospitals. Allina ; 52 rehab locations; 15 retail pharmacies; 2 ambulatory care centers; home care, hospice and palliative care services; and emergency care services, all on a $3 billion budget.
The Allina hospital doesn’t tell them what to do. The Allina Health system provides support for billing, HR, legal, IT, finance, OCC health, and more. The Ambulance Service is one of the largest ambulance and medical transport operations servicing 120 communities with more than one million people. They employ more than 700 paramedics, emergency medical techs (EMTs), dispatchers, special transport drivers, maintenance and administrations and support personnel. In 2021 they had 346,059 calls answered by dispatch which was a 17% increase over 2020. They average 7 minutes from the phone call to the door of the caller. A “reasonable time is considered 11 minutes and they make that 98% of the time. Metro ambulances make that time only 70% of the time.
They participate in many events and help with Allina’s free bike giveaway at Earthfest last year. They donate their time to community events and donate equipment to colleges and state fairs. Alina’s ambulance service has donated two ambulances to Costa Rico. They also provide “mutual aid” to nearby ambulance service who need help.
They have stressful jobs and just acquired their second therapy dog, Westin Sinclair. Their original dog is named Evie.