May 22, 1998

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, today announced that $200,000 in grant funds has been awarded to five regional ambulance services.

Funding for the grants is allocated each year by the Illinois General Assembly to improve the delivery of health care in rural and medically underserved areas.

The five regional ambulance services and their providers receiving grants are --

• Alexander-Pulaski Regional Ambulance Board, $40,000, which includes the Alexander County Ambulance Service, Cairo, and Pulaski County Ambulance Service, Mound City.
• Brown, Pike, Schuyler Regional Ambulance District, $40,000, which includes the Brown County Ambulance Service, Mount Sterling; Pike County Ambulance Service, Pittsfield; and Schuyler County Ambulance Service, Rushville.
• Hamilton and Wayne Regional Ambulance Service, $40,000, which includes the Gholson Ambulance Service, McLeansboro; Harre Hamilton County Ambulance, McLeansboro; North Wayne Ambulance Service, Cisne; Wayne City Ambulance, Wayne City; and Wayne County Ambulance, Fairfield.
• Jersey/Calhoun Regional Ambulance Board, $40,000, which includes the Calhoun County Ambulance Service, Hardin, and the Jersey County Ambulance Service, Jerseyville.
• Johnson Pope Regional Ambulance System Board, $40,000, which includes the Johnson County Ambulance Service, Vienna; Lake of Egypt Fire Protection District, Goreville; and Pope County Volunteer Ambulance Service, Golconda.

Regional ambulance system boards comprise at least three members from each ambulance service. Members are appointed by the head of their county boards.

Grant funds are awarded to ambulance services that cover two or more counties with a combined population of less than 20,000 or that are in the same emergency medical service region or shortage area.

Funds may be used to offset operational expenses of a newly established regional ambulance service, to consolidate ambulance service providers into a regional ambulance service, to train employees and volunteers, and to establish telecommunications for a regional ambulance service.

Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments