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Floyd County EMS reports increased calls, staffing gains and expanded critical-care capabilities
Summary
Floyd County Emergency Medical Services told the Board of Supervisors it ran about 2,092 calls in the last fiscal year, saw staff increases and is deploying higher-level care protocols; responders said recruitment improved after benefit changes.
Floyd County Emergency Medical Services reported staffing gains, new clinical capabilities and a modest rise in call volume during a Oct. 14 update to the Floyd County Board of Supervisors.
“During that fiscal year, we ran 2,092 calls,” said Justin, the county EMS presenter, who told supervisors the number represented an increase of about 15 calls from the prior year. The service reported an average countywide response time of 16 minutes, 8 seconds.
Justin said the agency has increased its roster of advanced providers and noted improvements in recruitment after the county revised insurance and retirement benefits. “We have 19 ALS providers now on staff. We have 15 BLS providers, and we have 5 volunteers,” Justin said, and added the service had hired three full-time staff since July and several part-time members.
The department described operational changes intended to sustain coverage: roughly 10 days per month have a five-person crew available that allows the county to staff two ambulances and a paramedic quick-response vehicle during daytime hours, and three to five days a month sometimes support a third ambulance for a 24-hour period. Justin said those staffing patterns reduced reliance on mutual aid for routine responses.
Justin also detailed a rolling expansion of critical-care protocols and training. He said the agency has sent personnel to advanced programs, hosted regional training with AirCare and Lifeguard flight services and partnered with area colleges and the Western EMS Council to support recruitment. “Our critical care protocols have been operational for about five, almost six months now,” Justin said; staff reported several successful critical-care cases but noted that broader deployment depends on credentialing more personnel.
Supervisors praised recruitment progress and quality improvements. “I applaud you for all of the work that you've done in the last year,” Supervisor Bechtold said after the presentation.
Justin and supervisors discussed vehicle age and replacement plans. Justin said newer engines and ambulances carry significant mileage—some units are nearing 150,000–200,000 miles—and that a grant application was submitted in September for a replacement ambulance; results were expected in January. He also said two older ambulances kept at Station 3 are high-mileage and not presently serviceable for patient transport.
Ending: Supervisors encouraged continued regional collaboration on staffing and noted the county would continue to support recruitment and training efforts; Justin said the EMS service plans further outreach and community programs to reduce repeat calls and to expand local training and cadet programs.
