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The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has awarded more than $1.7 million to stabilize and improve Emergency Medical Service (EMS) programs in the state. The monies will be distributed to 20 different EMS-related entities which submitted proposals for funding. A total of 22 separate proposals will be funded.

The funds are distributed through the Oklahoma Emergency Response Systems Stabilization and Improvement Revolving Fund (OERSSIRF), which was established by the Legislature in 2008 to fund assessment activities, reorganization of at-risk emergency medical services, development of regional services, training for medical directors, personnel and equipment needs.

Award applications were scored by economic viability and cost effectiveness, geographic area and the relationships between participating organizations, population and overall scope of need.

“The purpose for this fund is to stabilize and improve EMS functions within the state,” said Dale Adkerson, OERSSIRF Contract Manager. “These restricted tobacco taxes help fund many EMS programs servicing rural Oklahoma.”

The OSDH distributes these funds each year, and a panel of nine volunteers meets to review and score the proposals. The cumulative score determines their ranking among the submissions for that year. This is the ninth distribution for this fund. A total of 68 qualified entities have been awarded 144 contracts since the fund was established.

EMS programs receiving funding are listed below:

Sinor EMS, Inc. (Clinton, Sayre, Hobart & Thomas)

Tillman County EMS  

City of Carnegie EMS

City of Antlers Fire Department EMS

City of Elk City Fire Department EMS

EMS Success, Inc. (Choctaw)

Roger Mills County EMS  

Southwest Oklahoma Ambulance Authority  (Hollis)

Major County EMS  

City of Waynoka EMS  

Cimarron County EMS  

City of Anadarko Fire Department

City of Kingfisher Fire Department EMS  

Gordon Cooper Technology Center  (Shawnee)

City of Perry Fire Department EMS  

Heartland Medical Direction, Inc.  (Crescent)

Okmulgee County EMS

Beaver County EMS  

Life EMS, Inc. (Enid)

Mercy Health, Love County EMS

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