ShawneeDispatch.com

Johnson County Med-Act service soon will be upgraded in western Shawnee from a one-person Paramedic Advanced Response unit to a full-time ambulance.

The changeover is expected to be complete by mid-summer. It will require the redeployment of additional Med-Act personnel to Shawnee Fire Station No. 3, 6805 Hedge Lane Terrace, and remodeling of the fire station to house an ambulance and more Med-Act staff.

The redeployment was supported through the purchase of software to analyze the emergency medical service demands and delivery to maximize service while utilizing resources efficiently.

The change was authorized with approval of an agreement by the Shawnee City Council and the Johnson County Board of Commissioners.

The conversion has been in the works since last year. The fire station currently has space for one person assigned to the PAR unit. The city has agreed to provide additional space at the fire station for more Med-Act personnel and an ambulance, but the facility will require some remodeling. The improvements will cost at estimated $40,000, which will be paid by Med-Act.

Med-Act has operated an ambulance at Shawnee Fire Station No. 1, 6501 Quivira Road, since 1982 and the PAR unit at Fire Station No. 3 since 1997. The city has agreed to provide space in its fire stations at no cost to the county along with all maintenance and utility costs.

Renewal of the agreement involving the Med-Act operations at Fire Station No. 3 will be effective through Dec. 31, 2012.