Pictured at left, left to right:

Kelly Magnuson
Kathy Schwantes
Wendy Ulferts
Doug Allen
Brad Hanson
Bev Hartzburg
June Boie
Ron Flannigan
Steve Buckentin
Jim Larson

Pictured above, left to right:

Kathy Schwantes reviews the title transfer.

Bev Hartzburg takes the keys for the donated ambulance.

The old ambulance leaves Rice property for the last time.

EMT Jim Larson drives the new ambulance into its place.

Willmar Ambulance Service said farewell to a 1999 Road Rescue ambulance with nearly 200,000 miles on the odometer, as Ridgewater College welcomed the truck into its Customized Education Program. Rice Memorial Hospital donated the truck to Ridgewater College Foundation to be used for EMS training programs at the college.

On hand to officially transfer the vehicle's title from Rice Hospital to Ridgewater College were:

• Chief Nursing Officer Wendy Ulferts, RN, Rice Hospital
• Director of Emergency Services June Boie, RN, Rice Hospital
• Operations Manager Brad Hanson, Willmar Ambulance
• Ridgewater College President Doug Allen, Ph.D.
• Executive Director Kelly Magnuson, Ridgewater College Foundation
• Kathy Schwantes, Dean of Customized Training and Continuing Education at Ridgewater College
• EMS Training Coordinator Bev Hartzburg, Ridgewater College
• Mobile Simulator Training Coordinator Ron Flannagan, Ridgewater
• Steve Buckentin, EMT, Willmar Ambulance
• Jim Larson, EMT, Willmar Ambulance

The donated ambulance was recently replaced and removed from service.  When Ridgewater College asked about acquiring the vehicle, Rice Memorial Hospital agreed to donate it to the college instead of trading it in.  “We felt it would be important for our relationship with the EMS program at Ridgewater to support this effort,” said Hanson, during an informal ceremony.  “We’re going to miss it, but I know you guys will take good care of it.”

“You’ve got visitation rights,” Allen replied with a smile.  “From Ridgewater College’s perspective, we really appreciate it and our long history of collaboration with Willmar Ambulance and Rice Hospital.  We couldn’t do it without you.”

Ulferts acknowledged the importance of providing students with the right tools to better prepare them for their future careers.  “It’s great we’re able to do this,” she said.  “Having a trained staff impacts the care we provide.  The more we can do, the better.”

This is a first ambulance for Ridgewater College.  The college plans to use it to help train approximately 100 new emergency medical technicians and paramedics every year.  The ambulance will also be used for simulation lab training, refresher courses, nursing trauma training, and first responder training.  “It will be a nice part of the EMS training course as many students haven’t seen an ambulance,” said Hartzburg.  The ambulance will allow students to be mindful of patients and workers in the back, as well as what it’s like to have sirens and lights flashing while driving.  It will also show them what it’s like to treat patients while the truck is moving through traffic.

Willmar Ambulance keeps vehicles in service for eight to ten years, or approximately 150,000 miles.  The new ambulance has been in service about one month.