Bradley County EMS reports rising revenue, seeks vans and pay-plan as demand grows

Bradley County Emergency Medical Services Director Adam Lewis told the county commission on Feb. 13 that the agency responded to 26,887 calls in calendar year 2025 and transported patients 13,858 times, with 3,128 of those transports originating from Bradley Medical Center.

Lewis said improvements in billing and modest rate increases have produced a five-year upward revenue trend. "Every dime we bring in is one less dime that the taxpayers need to fork over for us to operate," he said, adding that EMS is on track to exceed the budget projection of $5.2 million and could bring in roughly $6.2 million this year against a $7.5 million operating budget.

The revenue gains, Lewis told commissioners, create room to invest in both equipment and expanded service lines. He proposed adding more nonemergency "convalescent" vehicles — vans dedicated to discharges and routine transports — and estimated the first-year investment for one van, its equipment and two full-time hires at about $450,000. Lewis said the county could plausibly generate $800,000–$900,000 in annual revenue from an added van once operational. "We will absolutely transport wherever we need to go…