To the editor:
Katherine’s strong work ethic and tireless can-do spirit make her a perfect match for the Vermont Senate. I have worked locally as an EMT (emergency medical technician) for 16 years. For 12 years I have been training EMTs in our area. The increasingly high cost of these trainings makes it difficult to find and train EMTs. Did you know that ambulance squads do not get paid for coming to your homes unless they take you to the hospital? Yet lift assists account for 10 to 15% of our calls.
Katherine is an incredible listener, always asking “What can I as a legislator do to help you?” When she heard about the problems rural emergency medical services (EMS) face, Katherine realized their significance for Vermonters and invited legislators, State EMS office personnel, and EMS providers to a meeting to learn more about the issues. From that meeting Katherine made a list of the priorities which fell within the State Legislature’s role to address. A bill was drafted that included: Increasing funding for the EMS Special Fund and adding language to prioritize funding for programs which offer basic emergency medical services training at low cost or no cost to participants and to ensure geographic distribution of those funds; reimbursing for treatment without transport; and tasking the EMS Advisory Committee with developing a five-year statewide plan for the design of a more efficient statewide EMS system and providing funding to hire a project manager and one or more consultants.
With Katherine’s support she made our voices heard. Katherine worked tirelessly to make sure this bill passed both houses in the state legislature. Katherine is a proven leader who gets things done. She knows the importance of listening to and working with everyone.
Karl Stein
Greensboro Bend
