For a city of under 1,200 residents, Panora’s EMS is unique in the ambulance services it provides.  No longer do a group of volunteers exclusively serve the Panora telephone exchange area only.   Panora EMS now provides service for some two-thirds of Guthrie County.

Currently, sixteen year EMS veteran and EMS Director Joe Hupp, along with four more full-time employees, three part-timers and seven volunteers not only transfer patients from the Guthrie County Hospital, they respond to calls in Panora, Yale, Jamaica and Bagley.

The EMS moved into new quarters at Panora City Hall late last year, giving it the much needed space.  Director Hupp says formerly, the small cramped EMS building held two of the three ambulances and little more than a desk with personnel sleeping seven blocks away at the fire hall.  Now, they occupy the top floor of city hall where there is ample space for living, working, training and storage Hupp added.

Last year Panora EMS had 763 calls including 219 transfers from Guthrie County Hospital.  Basically, two full-time employees work 24 hour shifts and are then off 72 hours with others filling out the schedule.