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Ad Hoc EMS Study Committee
On December 16, 2025, the County Board approved Resolution 39-25 creating the Ad Hoc EMS Committee to study Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Chippewa County.
In the spring of 2024, the Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) decided to close the HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and the HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls along with several of the Prevea Health clinics. That has contributed to and increased the challenges associated with providing EMS services in Chippewa County. The County Board supports taking a proactive approach by bringing together stakeholders to examine existing EMS operations, address gaps in service, and ensure a high level of emergency medical care into the future.
The Ad Hoc EMS Study Committee includes representatives from across the community. They will meet regularly and present a final report with its conclusions and recommendations to the Chippewa County Executive Committee and ultimately to the County Board for consideration by August 2026.
To complement the work of the Ad Hoc EMS Study Committee, an EMS Provider Workgroup will also be formed. This group will concentrate on identifying service challenges, improving coordination among providers, and offering strategies to enhance sustainability. The EMS Provider Workgroup’s input will be provided to the Ad Hoc EMS Study Committee for consideration as part of its final report.
Administrative support for the Ad Hoc EMS Study Committee and workgroup will be provided by Chippewa County Administration, Emergency Management and University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension, including providing a meeting location, staffing, final reporting, agenda, minutes, and organizational assistance.
Ad Hoc EMS Study Committee Members
- Pam Guthman, County Board Supervisor, Chair
- Peter Gehring, County Board Supervisor, Vice-Chair
- Sandi Frion, Bloomer City Administrator
- Dale Isaacs, Boyd Village Board
- Eric Weiland, Cadott Village Board
- Deb Semanko, Cornell City Council
- Dan Dixon, Chippewa Falls City Council
- Dave Staber, Town of Lafayette Chair
- Corey LaNou, Town of Arthur Chairman
- Pauline Spiegel, Town of Eagle Point Supervisor
- Ron Patten, EMS Association Chair
- Adam Dewitt, Anson EMS Director
- Justus Busse, Chippewa Falls Fire and EMS Battalion Chief
General Resources / Background Information
- EMS Glossary of Common Terms (PDF)
- PBS – Wisconsin’s EMS Agencies Describe a System in Crisis – April 2023
- Rethinking Emergency Medical Services: Applying Evidence and Data to Redesign Response Models for a Resilient and Sustainable Future – February 2025
- The Badger Project – EMS Staffing in WI is at a Crisis Point That Could Be Very Bad For You – June 2025
- Wisconsin Counties Magazine November 2022 – Emergency Management, Planning for the Next Crisis
- Wisconsin Counties Magazine January 2026 – A System on the Brink: Why County Leadership Needed for EMS – Pg 22
Chippewa County 2024 EMS Survey Feedback
In the fall of 2024, a survey was sent to the transporting and non-transporting agencies in Chippewa County to help understand the current state of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Chippewa County. The key findings from that feedback were compiled into an Executive Summary.
Chippewa Herald Article
This article provides an overview of the EMS informational meeting that was held at the Cadott High School in January 2025. First responders, legislators, health officials and municipal leaders were invited in an effort to bring awareness to this issue and share the 2024 survey data from the transporting and non-transporting agencies in Chippewa County.
Chippewa County EMS Map
LaFollette School of Public Affairs
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Wisconsin EMS Association
Wisconsin Office of Rural Health
Wisconsin Policy Forum
The 12/12/2025 forum focused on the challenges facing fire and EMS responders throughout WI. The research documented the mounting financial, staffing, and service-provision issues that agencies are seeing as well as a discussion on potential solutions.