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New ambulance manager, new ambulance service homeJohn Richardson never intended to become a paramedic but all it took was one fortuitous “ride-along” with an ambulance crew for the Monticello native to realize he had found his passion. Twenty years later, Richardson is bringing his enthusiasm for the job to his new position as Ambulance Operations Manager for Allina Medical Transportation (AMT) in New Ulm. Richardson has spent 17 of those 20 years with AMT and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health from St. Cloud State University. It was in St. Cloud where Richardson was enrolled in the program to become a law enforcement officer. A course on community health was a routine component of that program, which included that fateful ride-along with the ambulance crew. “The first call we got was a gentleman who had a heart-attack during a church service,” Richardson said. The impact the crew affected on that difficult situation made such an impression on Richardson he went straight home and changed his course of study. Of course, being a paramedic may just be in his blood. One of his prized possessions is a photo of his grandfather standing in front of his Model T ambulance during World War I. He started his paramedic career with Gold Cross Ambulance in Owatonna before joining Allina. While with Allina he also worked two years as a Mayo Medical Transport paramedic in Mankato, served ten years on the Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Department and also works with North Air Care Helicopter out of Redwood Falls. Richardson’s work with North Air Care and previous role with Mayo Medical Transport included having provided many critical care transports out of the New Ulm Medical Center prior to the establishment of AMT’s Advanced Life Support Services in New Ulm. His previous experience with New Ulm Medical Center and the surrounding region make him a good person to lead the ambulance crew down a new path in their relationship with area constituents. At the beginning of February, the ambulance service relocated its base from an assortment of offices, storage spaces and garage facilities at the New Ulm Medical Center to a more efficient, convenient location at 520 North Front Street. “We had outgrown the space at the Medical Center,” Richardson explained. “We had offices and supplies spread throughout the building. There was really only room for one ambulance in the garage, with the other ambulance and the chase vehicle (the suburban) parked outside.” Also, specific needs arose with the move from an all-volunteer EMT crew to the Advanced Life Support system where a paramedic is on-site for 24 hours a day. “In the new building, the crews will have not only a sleeping area, but a day room, kitchen, bathroom and showers,” Richardson said. There will also be room for all three vehicles in the garage as well as storage space and a wash bay. The North Front Street location is right near the bridge that exits New Ulm on Seventh North Street and eventually crosses the river. That location is ideal, Richardson said, not only because Front Street runs parallel to the entire town for easy accessibility to many locations, but also because if an oncoming train threatens to hold up the response time of the crew, the bridge is easily reached. “It is a very exciting time for us,” Richardson said. “We are more than a year into providing Advanced Life Support services for New Ulm and the surrounding area. This new facility will ensure that we can continue providing top-level care well into the future.” Currently, AMT-New Ulm has 24 volunteer EMTs and four paramedics. |
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New Ulm Medical Center
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