Coffee County EMS board reviews staffing gaps, lift-assist calls and North Station mold remediation

The Coffee County Emergency Medical Services board on Aug. 21 reviewed staffing shortages and recent injuries among emergency personnel, discussed an increase in “lift-assist” calls at assisted-living sites and received an update that Servpro completed mold mitigation at the North Station.

The issues surfaced during the director’s report and a facilities update at the board’s meeting in Coffee County. Board members asked staff to provide follow-up information next month on lift-assist reporting and on the written policy used to charge repeat callers.

The director (name not specified) told the board that overall call volume and calls-per-day averages remain close to historical levels but staffing is strained. The director said the service has two open advanced emergency medical technician (AMT) positions and four open medic positions, and that three AMT interviews were scheduled for the following Tuesday. The director reported current absences: one employee on workers’ compensation with a hand injury, two out on medical leave, one on maternity leave due to return Monday, and one who recently underwent cardiac bypass procedures and had stents placed.

"If I can get my injured reserve people back, it will look better again," the director said, describing the staffing picture as improving compared with last year but still…