Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Scotland County EMS outlines staffing changes, rising 911 calls and reliance on part‑time crews
Summary
Scotland County EMS director described rising 911 call volume, a multi‑year switch from a 24/48 to a 24/72 shift model, addition of a fourth ambulance in 2021 and ongoing reliance on part‑time staff to maintain coverage; commissioners pressed for data on utilization and cost implications.
Scotland County EMS director Robert briefed county commissioners on the service’s operations, staffing model and rising 911 call volume, describing a multi‑year shift in work schedules and an increased reliance on part‑time personnel to staff a fourth ambulance.
Robert said the county consolidated 911 dispatch centers in February 2015 so “100% of 911 calls came to 1 location,” and that the EMS service’s call load rose from about 4,000 annual calls in the 1990s to “over 6,000 calls” by February 2016. He told commissioners the service was nearing 8,000 annual 911 calls as call volume steadily increased.
Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said higher call volume and a change in work patterns affect fatigue, recruitment and the county budget. The department moved from a traditional modified 24/48 schedule toward a 24/72 schedule in fiscal year 2022–23 to improve retention and give staff more downtime, and it added a fourth ambulance in 2021 to meet demand. To keep the fourth unit staffed the department relies on part‑time…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
