News photo by Barbara Woodham Emergency medical technicians Ashley Shoumaker and Tairah Jasman prepare their MyMichigan, Bravo 640, BLS Ambulance for use.

ALPENA — Paramedics are in high demand amid staffing shortages, but willing to do all they can to help, according to Nick Harrison, Emergency Medical Services supervisor and medical control coordinator for MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena.

Currently, Harrison said the MyMichigan EMS is assisting in responding to cluster outbreaks of COVID-19 in facilities such as nursing homes and other care homes to administer monoclonal antibody infusions.

“We have a protocol currently in place that allows EMT basics under certain supervision, that allows them (EMT responders) to administer monoclonal antibody infusions,” Harrison said.

Monoclonal antibody infusions are lab-produced proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off viruses, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Harrison said being able to help administer this treatment at such facilities helps not only to save the lives of the patients, but keeps a significant amount of patients from going to the hospital.

The patients must test positive for COVID-19 for the treatment to be administered, Harrison said.

Although Harrison said the main role of MyMichigan EMS is to transfer about 80% of the hospital’s outgoing patients either back to their home facility or to a higher level of care facility elsewhere in the state to receive treatment not available in Alpena, they are pitching in to help wherever they can.

“There was a need and we filled the need,” Harrison said. “We are trying to stop people from having to be hospitalized for COVID.”

Harrison said responders would answer the call to help more if they were asked to do so, but was clear that they have no interest in bidding for Alpena County’s EMS contract.

“We have our role here to move patients out of the hospital,” Harrison said. “We are here to help and supplement other agencies that need help.”

MyMichigan EMS also helped Alcona County several months ago on some 911 calls because Alcona County EMS had a COVID-19 staff outbreak.

Harrison said that the current EMS division he supervises was created about two years ago to help alleviate delays in inter-facility transportation of patients.

Harrison said that is still its main role, but the division is willing and able to help in other areas, especially with paramedics in high demand.

In 2019 there were something like 2,000 new paramedics in Michigan and in 2020, less than 300 paramedics graduated, according to Harrison.

He said the drop off in emergency medical technicians is partly because of COVID-19, but also because there is a lack of initial education and lack of interest in the field.

“The staffing issue is system wide,” Harrison said.

Harrison said his department just went through a pay reconstruction in November to reward loyal current staff and give incentive for new hires.

“We run an advanced life support unit 24 hours a day and also, a basic life support unit during the day that is staffed by two emergency medical technicians,” Harrison said. “Inter-facility work is their primary role and what we do every day.”

According to Harrison, there are classes starting this month to become an emergency medical technician in Midland, Petoskey, and Gaylord. Some of that instruction will be offered virtually under the supervision of the Alpena Fire Department.