EMS and health department present 2024 annual reports; county moves toward community paramedic program

Dickinson County heard annual reports from EMS and public‑health officials at a work session, with EMS leadership outlining call patterns, staffing changes, training and plans to roll out a community paramedic program aimed at reducing some ambulance transports and emergency‑department visits.

John Holcomb, EMS director, reviewed 2024 operational data and workforce developments, saying several staff advanced certifications during the year and that the county provided 1,469 vaccinations through public‑health services. “We provide those. On the next page is community outreach programs that we teach,” Holcomb said, summarizing outreach for stop‑the‑bleed, car‑seat installation and hands‑only CPR.

Why it matters: Officials said a community paramedic program could reduce low‑acuity ambulance transports and ER visits, conserve ambulance availability and cut costs for patients and payors. Commissioners were also briefed on station coverage, response‑availability metrics (status‑1 and status‑0), and the…