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Franklin County EMS reports busiest year on record; identifies response disparities between Ottawa North and South
Summary
County EMS presented fourth-quarter and annual 2024 data showing a record 4,328 calls, revenue shortfalls tied to billing issues, and increasing call volume concentrated in Ottawa South. The board approved billing adjustments presented by EMS staff.
At the April 30 Franklin County commission meeting, EMS staff presented fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 data, reporting that 2024 was the busiest year in departmental history with 4,328 calls for service. The presentation noted a 996-call increase from the previous year and revenue of $128,696.86 for the quarter.
The presenter, identified in meeting materials and at the podium as Christie (EMS staff), said the department discovered a billing-process glitch that left revenue short of expectations earlier in the year. Christie said billing adjustments totaling $44,823.96 were included in the report and asked the board to approve those adjustments; a motion to approve the adjustment passed on a recorded vote.
Key operational highlights in the presentation:
- Call volume: 4,328 calls in 2024 (the highest on record), an increase of 996 from 2023. - Quarter revenue: $128,696.86 for the quarter presented. - Billing adjustments: $44,823.96 (presenter said the amount was carried from another quarter in the report and apologized for an earlier labeling error). - Runs by hour: a sustained increase in calls from about 1 p.m. through 10 p.m. - Geographic disparity: Ottawa South showed steadily higher demand than Ottawa North; staff said they will investigate causes and possible workload-balancing steps. - Mutual aid: Franklin County EMS provided mutual aid to Anderson, Douglas, Miami and Osage counties in 2024 and said those counties reciprocate. - Patient contact and transport: EMS made patient contact on roughly 77% of calls and treated-and-transported about 51% of all incidents when including standbys and public-service events. - Scene times: the presentation said average scene time in 2024 rose above preferred targets (the presenter noted the county aims to keep scene time under 20 minutes), then improved in 2025 after additional training.
Christie also noted an apparent data bug in ImageTrend that caused incorrect destination-hospital counts on one table; staff are working with the vendor to correct the error. When asked, Christie said the department is fully staffed, with one new employee in orientation.
The board approved the EMS adjustment request on a recorded vote. Commissioners asked staff to continue investigating the Ottawa North/South disparity and to report back with options to mitigate workload imbalances.
