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Finney County EMS reports staffing openings, new med‑lock units and improved response times from Station 3
Summary
Finney County EMS director Kenny Smith updated the commission on staffing, equipment and response-time improvements tied to a new Station 3 and station 1 construction; the service reported vacancies and ongoing recruitment and purchase and deployment of med‑locking units to track controlled substances.
Finney County EMS Director Kenny Smith briefed the commission Sept. 16 on operational changes and staffing since he took the position in April.
Smith said EMS is recruiting and has four current openings, with hiring in progress for one position expected in October; two positions remain frozen. He reported the service is interviewing for an assistant director and that med‑locking units purchased in July are now operational on ambulances and at stations to track controlled substances for DEA compliance.
The nut graf: Station 3’s opening has materially reduced response times on that side of town, Smith said, and Station 1 construction (Eighth and Mary) is progressing with framing and exterior work. Smith provided call volume breakdowns for the first half of the year: station 1 responded to 914 calls (of which 820 were city calls), station 3 about 510 calls (355 city calls), Holcomb 109 calls, nursing home calls about 182, air medical transports about 212, and other calls about 91.
Smith said the service does not conduct interfacility transfers (IFTs) for the most part and that most transfers are flight transfers to higher‑level trauma centers such as Wichita or Denver. Commissioners thanked staff and asked clarifying questions about air medical transport procedures and construction progress at Station 1.
