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Dr. Patterson outlines EMS gains and gaps in Floyd County, calls for mental‑health support for crews
Summary
Dr. Patterson, the EMS medical director and cardiology director at LewisGale Montgomery, told Floyd County leaders about training upgrades, a state mandate to set up an in‑house EMS pharmacy, use of the Pulsara field‑to‑hospital system, persistent staffing shortages and the need for formal psychiatric support for first responders.
Dr. Patterson, the medical director (OMD) for the county's EMS services and director of cardiology at LewisGale Montgomery, briefed Floyd County leaders on efforts to tighten prehospital care and the persistent operational challenges facing rural EMS.
He said improving rural outcomes requires bringing medical capability into the field. "When I took over Floyd services, I had some goals in mind. I wanted to really focus on the quality of care," Dr. Patterson said, describing stepped‑up training in airway management and other low‑frequency, high‑complexity procedures. He said those cases are reviewed routinely: "If you've intubated, we're reviewing it. Right? Because we need to make sure every time it goes well."
Patterson reported service volume and logistical constraints that frame the county's work: "Keep in mind, y'all have done 822 transports since January," he told the meeting, and he noted…
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