Worth County introduces new fire chief, discusses EMS transport destinations and service status
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Summary
Ryan Shown introduced himself as Worth County’s new fire chief, told supervisors the ambulance operation was profitable this year and clarified typical hospital destinations for critical and non-critical patients.
Ryan Shown introduced himself to the Worth County Board of Supervisors as the county's new fire chief and provided supervisors an update on emergency medical services.
"My name is Ryan Shown. I'm the new fire chief here," Shown said, noting he had been in the role about a week. He said ambulance and fire operations are ‘‘in good hands’’ and that the ambulance service posted a profit this year after paying per-call personnel and supplies.
Shown clarified local transport practices and hospital destinations. He said critically ill patients — for example, those with major heart attacks or strokes — are taken to the nearest trauma center (identified in discussion as Mercy), where rapid interventions like catheterization can occur. For non-critical cases, Shown said transport can be handled on a case-by-case basis and noted that Albert Lea functions as a critical access emergency department with limited capacity.
Residents at the meeting praised recent ambulance responses. A resident who identified himself as Pat Smith told the board his mother had a heart attack and was taken to Mercy, where hospital staff completed a catheterization procedure within about 45 minutes; Smith thanked the county responders.
Shown said the ambulance service is not seeking additional funding at the meeting but asked supervisors to be aware of ongoing operational needs and communication points with regional hospitals.
No formal action was taken on the EMS updates; the presentation served as an operational update and an opportunity for residents to ask questions.
