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Washington County EMS reports rising transports and revenue; pilot departure, weather affected some air transfers
Summary
EMS Director Taylor Leonard told commissioners the service handled about 4,400 patients year‑to‑date, tallied nearly 200 aviation calls in six months, reported detailed monthly revenue figures and identified declined transfers and a pilot departure that temporarily reduced air capacity.
Taylor Leonard presented Washington County Emergency Medical Services' quarterly report on July 28, detailing call volumes, response times, transport patterns and revenue.
"For April, our ground revenue is 413,000. Our air revenue is 268,000," Leonard reported, then provided May and June monthly figures and year‑to‑date totals: ground revenue year‑to‑date $2,344,000 and air revenue $1,545,000. He said the service handled about 4,400 patients year‑to‑date and tallied 199 aviation calls over six months.
Leonard described reasons for transfers the service could not accept during the quarter: 23 transfers were declined — seven canceled by the hospital, two due to maintenance and 11 because weather prevented flight — and said there was an instance where a pilot quit abruptly, leaving the service temporarily without a backup aircraft. He added the county tracks stacked transfers and is monitoring in‑county versus out‑of‑county transfers (about 1,148 out‑of‑county transfers, approximately 20% of call volume).
On fleet efficiency Leonard highlighted that hybrid ambulances showed better miles‑per‑gallon and reduced idle time; he reported hybrids traveled roughly 65,000 miles and non‑hybrid vehicles showed higher idle times.
Commissioners asked for follow‑up on how many transfers result in re‑transfers at receiving hospitals and on jail medical call timing. Leonard said some of that data is tracked but not included in the current report and offered to provide additional detail on request.
Why it matters: EMS operational performance and the financial picture inform budgeting, resource allocation and decisions about the county's aviation program. Leonard's data provides the court with monthly revenue breakdowns, operational limitations and areas for follow up.
