A New Ambulance Station for Rugby
Announcing the Build EMS Campaign
In an emergency, every second matters.
Building an ambulance station next to the Emergency Room ensures our first responders are ready to answer the call—protecting lives and improving response times when your loved ones are at risk.
Your donation supports lifesaving care.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
What's included in the plan?
The Good Samaritan Health Services Foundation is spearheading a community effort to build a new Ambulance Station in Rugby. The station will have living quarters for EMS personnel, a community classroom, HazMat remediation facility, and bays for four emergency vehicles.
What will it cost?
Cost estimates are preliminary, with an upper budget bound of $5M.
Where will it be located?
It will be located adjacent to the recently completed $62.5M Heart of America Medical Center. The Ambulance Station will complete the HAMC medical facilities in Rugby.
WHY IT'S NEEDED
Staff close at hand when needed
When HAMC moved two years ago from downtown Rugby to its current location, budget limitations forced the ambulance service to remain in the old location. That creates an issue, because Rugby Ambulance doesn’t simply transport people to the hospital. They serve as Emergency Room staff when additional skilled help is needed to handle patient load.
Even though the current station is only 7 minutes away, those minutes are critical. A station next to the ER shortens the response window to just 90 seconds.
Proper rest during 48-hour shifts
In any 48-hour shift, ambulance crew may spend six to eight consecutive hours in the ER. Having an ambulance station on site not only improves response time, it provides an opportunity for EMS staff to simply walk next door for rest when the opportunity presents itself.
Outdated facility slows response time
The existing 1947 station has only two bays for emergency vehicles. Two of four emergency vehicles remain outside in summer heat and bitter winter cold. Medicine and sensitive electronic cardiac gear cannot remain in the vehicle. They must be transferred into the vehicle only after the emergency call comes in, negatively impacting response times.
Finally, living quarters for the 24/7 crew of three are currently located on the third floor of a daycare—a less than ideal situation for emergency personnel who share stairwells with small children. Upon moving to a new ambulance station, existing EMS living quarters will be renovated into additional space for daycare.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL
Aren’t hospitals responsible for ambulance service?
No. In North Dakota, EMS and Fire Service are usually sponsored by the local government. There are over 100 EMS service areas in North Dakota. All but 9 are operated by tax-supported local government. Rugby is one of those rare exceptions.
Why did Heart of America agree to take over ambulance service?
In 2012, the city asked Heart of America Medical Center, a non-profit organization, to take over full operation of ambulance services. The service is now professional, not volunteer, with a crew of three on-site 24/7. The transition in 2012 relieved the community of managing the service, but shifted the financial burden to the hospital. Unfortunately, revenue from insurance reimbursement and other sources does not cover operating costs.
Why ask citizens for support?
Ambulance service consistently operates at a deficit, with HAMC covering the shortfall to ensure emergency care. A recent study indicated that throughout ND, ambulance services lose on average $500 per run. In 2025, Rugby EMS completed 535 service calls. Over the last five years, HAMC has subsidized EMS services $1.66M.
Don’t our taxes pay for ambulance service?
HAMC receives some support through taxes, which cover approximately 12% of the operating cost. However, it does not provide funding for capital improvements.
Under these circumstances, HAMC is turning to citizens and area businesses for construction of a new ambulance station.
