GILMAN — Emergency services in Gilman are on the way to becoming a transporting agency.

Gilman Fire and Rescue EMS Chief Jessica Cecak said the move started about three years ago and will hopefully be completed by May.

“I knew we had the drive and membership to provide this care for the community,” she said.

Cecak hopes to have the move completed within one or two months. She needs to ensure the proper procedures are followed. The first is making sure the ambulance is in good working order. Then, the EMS policies and procedures must be in order and sent to the state of Iowa for approval.

“They will review that and come inspect the equipment and vehicles to determine whether or not we are allowed to transport,” she said. “That has not been scheduled yet.”

Most of the cost of the switch will be transferred to patients’ insurance companies, Cecak said.

“The biggest cost is going to be fuel,” she said. “That is going to be huge. Billing the insurance companies will help offset some of the cost. This is not going to be a profit.”

The goal for the move is to change the level of service offered. Cecak said it will help the agency go from providing basic life support as first responders to more advanced care, such as administering medications and transportation.

Even though Gilman is located in the southeastern corner of Marshall County, patients the Gilman EMS respond to are not transported to the hospital in Grinnell, which is 12 miles away. Rather, they are taken to UnityPoint Marshalltown, which is 18 miles away. Since Gilman EMS is not a transporting agency, Cecak said their patient needs to wait for an ambulance to respond from Marshalltown, and then take them the 18 miles.

“That is our agreement — UnityPoint Marshalltown is our primary ambulance,” she said.

Depending on the situation for which Gilman calls, Cecak said the Grinnell ambulance might respond, but it is predominantly Marshalltown. There have been many times when she said responders and the patient have had to wait anywhere from 35 to 45 minutes.

“That might not be what’s best for the patient,” Cecak said.

The Gilman responders are already stretched too thin, she said, as there has been an increase in the number of calls and they cover a larger territory than most. Within Marshall County, Gilman also covers Laurel, as well as areas of Tama and Jasper counties.

“We are unique. We cover multiple counties because we are on the edge,” Cecak said.

Fortunately, the city of Gilman and the residents are fully aware of what they are trying to do, she said. Their public relations efforts really help, she said. For example, the Gilman Fire and Rescue annual hog roast is scheduled for April 27, and Cecak said usually draws a decent crowd.

“We have a great community, which backs us 100 percent,” she said. “People donate to us, contribute to our fundraisers. They are very supportive.”

While an official celebration of the transportation transition has not been set, Cecak said she will keep people updated on their Facebook page, Gilman Fire & Rescue.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.