In 2018, the Center for Public Safety Management (CPSM) delivered a comprehensive list of recommendations for the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program in the City of Charlevoix.
Located in Charlevoix County in northwest Michigan, the City was first established in 1905. Charlevoix currently serves a population of 3,000 and offers a dedicated EMS program to its residents and the residents of five neighboring townships.
The City of Charlevoix selected CPSM to perform a review of its EMS program and provide recommendations for improvement. Led by Principal Leonard Matarese and Director Thomas Wieczorek, the CPSM team took a look at the City’s goals and the program’s current processes over the course of eight weeks.
“Prior to this project, we had an idea of how we wanted to improve, but wanted to make sure we did it right,” said Mark Heydlauff, City Manager of Charlevoix. “CPSM’s recommendations helped laid the groundwork for our future success.”
Today, the City continues to reference the report as new changes are implemented within the EMS Department, including the need for new cardiac monitors.
“As we contemplate the future of our service and options we should pursue for continued success, the CPSM team has been helpful in giving advice about the industry and follow-up to the suggestions they provided,” continued Heydlauff. “The City Council and other local stakeholders have found the report valuable for providing a credible, non-biased perspective on our service.”
“As a former Michigan City Manager, I had a good understanding of the challenges that Charlevoix faces and how they can best address them,” said Wieczorek. “Our mission is to deliver efficient and effective public safety recommendations that are grounded in data. Our work in Charlevoix is a great indicator of our success.”
CPSM provides training and research for ICMA’s members and represents ICMA in its dealings with the federal government and other public safety professional associations, such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police, International Fire Chiefs Association, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Police Executive Research Forum, International Public Management Association for Human Resources, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), National Fire Protection Association, and others. CPSM also represents local governments at the federal level and has been involved in numerous projects with DOJ and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.