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W O R K F O R M E / S P R I N G 2 0 2 6 20 license, so we're ultimately the first responding service until an ambulance frees up to be able to come to assist on the second call if there's two going at once." One solution is an emergency agreement with Northern Light Medical Transport, allowing Greenville's fire department to backfill as a driver during urgent situations when Northern Light provides a licensed EMS clinician to help cover gaps. This reliance on emergency backfilling and mutual aid also impacts surrounding communi- ties. Response times can stretch further when responders must travel long distances or reach injured hikers or snowmobilers deep in the woods, rescues that can take hours or even overnight. Emergency medicine in the wild Kevin Springer, ambulance ser- vices supervisor for Northern Light Medical Transport & Emergency Care at CA Dean Hospital in Green- ville, understands the challenges of emergency care in remote areas. "It's a different ballgame up here. It's not that we're out on calls 24 hours a day, but there are times that you could be up in the woods for 12 to 24 hours or overnight in the woods with a patient," Springer says. "There's been days when I've traveled by truck, by ambulance, by boat, by seaplane, by canoe just to get to patients. It's really a dif- ferent animal in EMS up here with the wilderness aspect of it." Springer is the only full-time paramedic who lives in Green- ville. His team includes 12 EMTs, four intermediates, two per diem paramedics and two additional full-time paramedics. Recruiting providers remains difficult. In previous generations, volunteers were the backbone of rural EMS, but rising costs have made volunteerism increasingly difficult. "I mean we joke around about EMS and say it's not about the pay, and it really isn't, but when you're getting paid $13 an hour for work 12-hour shifts or 24-hour shifts and when you're saving lives but you can go make double that flip- ping burger somewhere, it just doesn't make sense, especially in the economy these days where you need one or two jobs just to make it. It just doesn't cut it anymore," Springer says. Low pay makes it difficult to recruit EMS workers. Despite workforce shortages and long distances, EMS providers in rural Maine continue to answer the call. Whether responding to multiple emergencies or navigat- ing rugged terrain, their work ensures that even in the most re- mote communities, help is still on the way when it matters most. n h e a lt h c a r e Healthy business starts with healthy people HOW ARE YOU? Northern Light Health Work Health partners with Maine businesses to keep your workforce safe, productive, and supported. Reduce downtime, control costs, and help your business thrive. See our full offerings at workhealthllc.org or call 1.844.975.4584. Our commonly requested services: Work injury management Testing services Immunizations Physical Exams Ergonomics Fit Testing HOW S YOUR TEAM? 2026 Nonprofit Wages + Benefits Survey 2026 Nonprofit Wages + Benefits Survey Your Input Matters! Your Input Matters! www.nonprofitmaine.org/nonprofit-compensation www.nonprofitmaine.org/nonprofit-compensation NOW OPEN FOR MAINE NONPROFITS! NOW OPEN FOR MAINE NONPROFITS! NOW OPEN FOR MAINE NONPROFITS! NOW OPEN FOR MAINE NONPROFITS! There's been days when I've traveled by truck, by ambulance, by boat, by seaplane, by canoe just to get to patients. It's really a different animal in EMS up here with the wilderness aspect of it. — Kevin Spring, EMS coordinator in Greenville « C O N T I N U E D F R O M P R E V I O U S PAG E

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