About LCEMSA

Karen hard at work keeping things running smoothly.

The Lake Charlevoix Emergency Service Authority was established as a collaboration between the City of Charlevoix, Charlevoix Twp., Hayes Twp., Marion Twp., and Norwood Twp. in April 2021. It became licensed and officially began operations on July 26, 2021 to serve the populace and visitors of the member entities. The Authority assumed all the City of Charlevoix EMS staff and equipment. It also participates in reciprocal mutual aid agreements with adjacent EMS service providers in Boyne City, East Jordan and Emmet County. LCEMSA has passed all licensing surveys and quality assurance programs.

The Authority is overseen by a Board of Directors comprised of a representative from each township and the City and a member at large. These people represent the interests of the taxpayers in their area and provide balanced input into decisions of the Authority.  The Board of Directors meets on the third Wednesday of each month at the Hayes Station.  The meeting is open to the public.  Information regarding each meeting is posted at the station in advance of the meeting.  The day-to-day operations are run by experienced EMS staff.

The four ambulances are ACLS level 3 vehicles. A  Transport Van Ambulance was purchased in 2023.  This ambulance is primarily used for transfers of BLS patients from one facility to another location, but can be stocked emergent ALS services.  This van allows for the larger ambulances to cover local 911 calls.  This van has helped to lower fuel costs.  As such they have required minimum staffing and equipment levels. Each year the vehicles and equipment must be rigorously inspected and maintained to ensure that all licensing standards are met. This requires contracts with a variety of special vendors who are certified by the State to perform such inspections. These costs are not covered by insurance or governmental reimbursement. The cardiac monitors and defibrillators and power cots (stretchers) while currently functional, will require replacement in the future. The costs of these can easily run to $100,000 or more.

In addition to our emergency response services a significant portion of our activity is the transportation of patients from both Munson and McLaren hospitals to other facilities or to home. In 2021 covid-19 cases resulted in a large volume of long-distance transports to other hospitals that had equipment best suited for the critically ill covid patients.

LCEMSA administration offices headquartered at the LCEMSA Hayes Station located at 9251 Major Douglas Sloan Road.  There is a second station located at 210 State Street in Charlevoix.