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Lewis County EMS reports call volume, response times and staffing plans as it seeks a second ambulance
Summary
Lewis County Emerald Service reported February call data, response-time averages and financial details; the provider said it is interviewing to staff a second ambulance and discussed loan/bond funds held as reserves.
Michael Bible, representing Lewis County Emerald Service, presented February operational and financial statistics to the Lewis County Fiscal Court, reporting 52 total calls for the county in the month, 23 rolls, 28 run forms and 95 transported patients.
Bible said the service’s average scene time was 2 minutes 11 seconds and average response time was about 15 minutes 18 seconds, with 34% of responses under eight minutes. He noted respiratory complaints were the top call type in February and that the service transported patients from nursing and care facilities in the county.
On finances, Bible confirmed the service switched to a WEX fuel card to broaden fueling options and that Medicare and Medicaid runs constitute a large share of transports—he estimated roughly 80–88% of runs fall under those payers but said a full-year dataset is needed for a precise percentage. The service is preparing to staff a second truck and needs six additional employees; Bible said the provider has 10 applications and has begun interviews and ALS protocol review with a medical director.
Court members asked about a $200,000 reserve tied to payments and interest rates. Bible said the board’s preference was to keep that cash as a contingency and that the capital/repayment mechanics would be determined by the provider’s board and the fiscal court. The transcript shows the court and the service discussed timing of the first payment and possible repayment options but did not set a repayment schedule at the meeting.
Bible said the service expects the second ambulance to reduce call rollouts and to increase capacity for ALS-level care once staffing and medical-protocol approvals are complete.
