Grant helps Johnson County Ambulance Service buy cardiac monitors

IOWA CITY – The Johnson County Ambulance Service will use a federal grant to buy four new cardiac monitors.

The $84,228 grant comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The ambulance service, which is operated by the county, will provide a 20 percent match, or $21,056, and the combined funds will be used to purchase four electrocardiogram monitors/defibrillators, according to a news release.

The old monitors will be put in backup ambulances.

“Over the eight years of their expected life, the monitors may be used to treat more than 50,000 patients,” said Steve Spenler, director of the Johnson County Ambulance Service. “With the total cost of the four new monitors at slightly over $105,000, this breaks down to $2.10 per call.”