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Norton Healthcare proposes EMS transport hub on donated land; council hears project details
Summary
Norton Healthcare and King's Daughters foundation representatives told the Jefferson County Council they plan to build a new EMS transport hub on 4–5 acres the hospital will donate, describing expected efficiency gains, crew needs and fundraising asks; the presentation sought county participation in an upcoming budget cycle.
Norton Healthcare representatives told the Jefferson County Council they plan to build a new emergency medical services transport hub on 4 to 5 acres the hospital will donate and asked the council to consider participation during the county’s August budget process.
“We’re planning to build an EMS transportation hub,” said Carol Dozier, who identified herself as CEO at the local Norton facility. Dozier said the current building is “woefully outdated” and beyond renovation for EMS needs; Norton is donating land on the hospital campus for a new facility intended to reduce travel time and vehicle wear because “about 80% of our runs are on the hilltop area.”
Dozier and Rachel Sharp of the local foundation said the new hub would provide space for ambulance bays, training, staff amenities and equipment storage to improve recruitment and retention. Adam Field and Shane Williams, introduced as Norton foundation and EMS leaders respectively, said a typical design presented would include six drive-through bays and two chase vehicles, and that construction could take a couple of years after ground-breaking depending on weather and permitting.
Council members asked about job creation and local contracting. Shane Williams said staffing increases depend on run volume; he estimated additional daytime staffing could expand to four crews (two-person crews) at peak, roughly equating to “another probably, 4 people” at that stage, and stressed nationwide shortages of EMS professionals. Norton representatives said the new hub would improve efficiencies and said proceeds from selling the old building would be used for EMS operations.
Dozier and other Norton speakers said Norton intends to absorb ongoing operating losses for EMS. “Norton is committed to the million and a half dollar loss that were taken, year over year on on this service,” a Norton representative said, describing the organization’s willingness to maintain EMS operations despite financial losses. Norton also described partnerships with Ivy Tech and local paramedic training programs as recruitment pipelines.
Dozier offered tours of the current facility and asked the council to consider funding conversation during the upcoming budget cycle; no formal county funding decision was taken at the meeting.
