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Acadian Ambulance presents recruitment and training offer to Adams County as EMS workforce strains continue
Summary
Acadian Ambulance Service representatives told the Adams County Board they can help fill paramedic shortages through education partnerships, recruitment programs and emergency response capacity and expressed interest in becoming the county's emergency and nonemergency provider.
Shane Davidson, introduced as director of business development for Acadian Ambulance Service, told the Adams County Board of Supervisors that the company is one of the nation’s largest private EMS providers and emphasized its training and recruitment work.
Davidson said Acadian runs a National EMS Academy and that the company educated about 34% of paramedics in Mississippi last year; another Acadian representative described rapid surge response during a recent ice storm where the company mobilized helicopters and additional ground units to evacuate patients. Representatives proposed partnering with local colleges to recruit and train new paramedics and offered to pursue service contracts or an RFP to provide emergency and nonemergency ambulance services for Adams County.
Board members thanked the delegation, asked about contracting procedures and were told to coordinate with county legal and procurement staff if the county wishes to issue an RFP or negotiate an agreement. There were no formal votes tied to the presentation; staff said follow-up contract work would go through the county’s procurement and attorney review processes.
What was said
"We have the solution. We educate," Davidson said, noting Acadian's training capacity and nationwide resources. Ty Swallow described the company's surge response to an ice storm and the ability to bring additional ambulances and helicopters into affected areas.
Next steps
County staff indicated any formal selection would require an RFP or contract process and coordination with the county attorney and procurement staff; Acadian representatives provided packets and business cards for follow up.
Reporting note: direct quotes and claims above are taken from the company presentation and the public record of the meeting.
