When most people hear “Road Trip,” the vehicle that comes to mind is not an ambulance. But, for Steve Waldeck, Eastern Plumas Health Care’s dedicated Director of Ambulance Services, the point of a recent trip along the highways and byways of California was to bring back the hospital’s brand new, shiny EPHC ambulance. Waldeck decided to bring the rig back home himself in order to save the hospital $2,300 in transport costs. He flew down to Anaheim, where the new ambulance was being outfitted. But, what was the happiest place on earth for Waldeck? Not Disneyland, but the seat of his new ride.
It’s a good thing Waldeck decided to make the trip, it allowed him to have a missing 110 volt plug installed. He waited while they made that and a few other changes, which meant he didn’t get on the road until evening. Waldeck pulled into Portola at 5:00 a.m. and still managed a smile and a brief history of what goes into an emergency vehicle like this one, meant to carry all the life saving equipment necessary to get a patient stabilized and to the hospital.
The ambulance was paid for almost entirely by donations from the hospital’s Auxiliary ($50,000) and Foundation ($83,619). Both organizations have made possible essential purchases that simply wouldn’t have happened otherwise. These include, in previous years, the 12-lead EKG system for all of the hospital’s ambulances, new state of the art digital mammography and ultrasound equipment, a CT scanner, and much more. Other donations for the new ambulance came from private donors, including donations from Frank Shepard and Tom Hayes through the Sacramento Regional Foundation. EPHC’s Chief Executive Officer, Jeri Nelson, notes that all donations go towards designated purchases or significant equipment needs like the ambulance, never towards operating expenses.
Waldeck’s ambulance adventure didn’t start with his run down to Anaheim, however. This perfectionist has been working with designer, Juliet Beer, to come up with an updated version of EPHC’s logo, which is the work of art on the side of the new rig.
What probably interests residents most, however, is the fact that the new ambulance offers a smooth ride and easy access to lifesaving equipment, as well as a refrigerator/heater unit that keeps essential medicines at the proper temperature. They’ll also rest a bit easier, perhaps, knowing the ambulance will jump into action within one to three minutes after receiving a call for help.
This, of course, is what most people will notice when they need life saving assistance from EPHC’s ambulance crew. But, it’s good to know that behind the scenes, people like Waldeck display the kind of dedication and hard work to make top quality emergency care a reality for Plumas and Sierra County residents.