Jones Regional Medical Center

Ambulance Service

Anamosa Area Ambulance Service is a premier emergency medical service that provides professional paramedic care to the communities of Anamosa, Martelle, Morley, Viola and rural areas in Jones and Linn counties. A highly trained team of professionals routinely handle 9-1-1 dispatched emergency calls and non-emergent transfers.

Anamosa Area Ambulance is operated by Jones Regional Medical Center and under the direction of Sheila Frink, paramedic specialist and EMS instructor. She started as a volunteer with this service before becoming employed by Jones Regional in 1997. In 1998 she was named the director for the ambulance service. In addition to her duties with the Anamosa Area Ambulance, she serves on many committees within Jones Regional and in county and state EMS organizations. Sheila is a member of the Northeast Iowa EMS Council and is president of the EMS Association of Jones County. Sheila's devotion and dedication to emergency medical services is exemplified through her volunteer service with Martelle First Responders.

The profession of "para" medicine has expanded to include paramedics working along side physicians and nurses in the emergency department at Jones Regional. There they use critical skills regularly which help to keep expertise and knowledge at an optimum.

A typical day for paramedics includes providing in-field care, working in the Jones Regional emergency department and triage and assisting on the inpatient medical floor.

Anamosa Area Ambulance maintains a modern fleet of two ambulances that are furnished with state-of-the-art equipment for paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to use. Recently acquired patient care equipment includes Philips MRX cardiac monitor/defibrillators that can transmit 12-lead EKGs (heart tracings) from the patient's home or ambulance directly to the hospital. CPAP equipment for respiratory patients and a transport ventilator has also recently been added. In 2006 two Stryker brand powered hydraulic lift cots were purchased with generous donations to the service.

In addition to primary duties, personnel from Anamosa Area Ambulance provide community service by:

• providing emegency medical services for the annual Anamosa Pumpkinfest, Grant Wood Arts Festival, local hill climbs, Anamosa High School home football games and other sporting events.
• offering educational programs for schools, including mock drunk driving moter vechile collisions, elementary education talks and tours and CPR classes.
• assists in organzing and participating in community-wide disaster drills.

Anamosa Area Ambulance is always looking for certified staff to work with our paramedic staff. Those wishing to join our team must be an Iowa certified EMT-B or higher and hold a valid Iowa driver's license, free of violations. Applicants must pass a physical exam, drug screen and criminal background check. If you are interested in becoming certified as an emergency medical provider, contact your local community college for class availability. Certified medical providers can stop by Jones Regional to fill out an application or you can apply online.