The Jackson Township Community Development Corporation procured four new heart monitors for Harmony EMS, which has seen a decline in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harmony EMS has received four much-needed heart monitors courtesy of the Jackson Township Community Development Corp.

The heart monitors, which cost $140,000 in total, replaced four of the company's five aging heart monitors that are being phased out by the manufacturer, with support ending at the end of 2021.

Jay Grinnell, Harmony EMS founder, said the company is grateful for the community development corporation's aid in purchasing the monitors. He said Harmony EMS has, like many other ambulance services, seen a revenue dip due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

That dip, “coupled with the fact that we have two ambulances to replace this year, plus the heart monitors, it really put us in a crisis position we wouldn't have been in if (2020) would have been a normal year,” Grinnell said.

He said the company submitted a proposal to the private nonprofit, seeking financial assistance. Mark Trauman, the community development corporation president, said the nonprofit was more than willing to help.

“Harmony EMS is a necessary service, and without such a service community members could be in jeopardy,” Trauman said. “Organizations such as the Jackson Township CDC need to pull together and help our local community and local services, such as Harmony EMS, which is a necessary, life-saving service.”

In addition to replacing soon-to-be out-of-service monitors, the new equipment provides some additional benefit to patients, Grinnell said. With the new monitors, physicians in hospital emergency departments are able to see, in real-time, what the monitor is reading, the condition of the patient and what effect drugs have on their condition, he said.

“We're gracious they were able to help us out and buy us a few heart monitors,” Grinnell added.