Full-time paramedic joins Grant ambulance crew

After nearly a year of discussion and advertising, the Perkins County Commissioners hired Deanna Turner of Arthur as the full-time paramedic for the Grant ambulance on February 22, 2022.
Perkins County Commissioner Steve Tucker, who is also an Emergency Medical Tech (EMT), said a full-time paramedic was sought to alleviate the pressure on the volunteer EMTs for calls during the day when many are at work or outside the area.
“We were seeing longer and longer response times from our volunteers. It’s an issue several departments in the area are starting to see,” Tucker said.
Tucker said a paramedic instead of an EMT was sought because of the increased level of care a paramedic can provide, and because that level of care will allow the Grant Department to cover Advance Life Support (ALS) transfers from the Perkins County Hospital to outside medical facilities. These transfers were being sent to other transfer services.
Tucker said the hiring of Turner may cost the county around $2,000 more each year, but the amount will be recouped in the income earned for transfers the department was losing. Additional grant funds will also be sought to help offset the costs.
“The good news is, we will have the day shift covered and our level of care will go up,” Tucker said.
Turner joins 11 other EMTs on the Grant Department. According to Fire Chief Rick Dreiling, the addition of Turner will allow the department to be able to provide more services. Dreiling also said three of Grant’s EMTs, Fred Reichert, who is the assistant fire chief, Chasity Knoles, ambulance captain, and Travis Ogg are also currently going through an advanced EMT class, which will allow them to help in providing advanced life support as well.
Ambulance Captain Knoles said she is excited to have Turner on the team, stating her skills will increase the level of care for all patients.
A Dream Come True
Turner, 43, comes to Grant from a similar position with Regional West Medical Center out of Scottsbluff. She was based in Oshkosh, but served the Ogallala, Sidney and Oshkosh area.
Turner is originally from Denver and always wanted to be in the medical field. However, becoming a mom shortly after she and her husband Calvin got married in their early 20s put her dream on the back burner.
With a move from Denver to Arthur in 2015, the opportunity to be an EMT opened up to her in 2017, which she took and loved. In 2019, Turner, whose four children were now older, decided to work towards and earn her paramedic license, which she did in 2020.
Although licensed as a paramedic, also known as Advanced Life Support (ALS), Turner is currently serving Grant in the capacity of Emergency Medical Tech (EMT) until the department becomes ALS licensed, Turner said.
“I am limited to the services and skills I can provide right now until the licensing for the ALS is established,” Turner said.
Turner is helping the Grant Department with the ALS licensing application process, and also with other requirements that must be made to the ambulance before the license is approved. Licensing, which is done through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, takes anywhere from six weeks to three months, Turner said.
Turner’s current work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and her office is located in the Perkins County Courthouse. Her phone number at the Perkins County Courthouse is 308-352-7548.
A Great Team
Turner praises everyone she has met so far on her journey to become the paramedic for the Grant Department. From the commissioners, to County Medical Director Dr. Matthew Byrd, to the everyone on the fire department, Turner said she is thrilled to serve the community and ready to be a team member.
“I am doing the best I can to make sure that I am not overstepping,” she said. “There is just so much dedication here in this volunteer organization. The training level at the Grant Department and their dedication is amazing.”
Tucker said the commissioners and the Grant ambulance crew is excited to have Turner on staff.
“She will work directly with the present Perkins County Ambulance EMT’s, and is a great addition to an already great staff,” Tucker said.