DeKalb EMS says that due to an increase in population, and the resulting increase in demand, they need three new full-time employees. That’s what EMS Director Hoyte Hale told commissioners during a budget committee meeting last Wednesday.
Currently, the service operates two 24-hour ambulances, seven days a week, along with a day vehicle Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. According to Hale, the day vehicle needs to be in service 12 hours a day, seven days a week to keep up with increased volume.
“Due to an increase in the population, lake related activities, and [medical] transfers on weekends, the call volume has drastically increased. A day truck ambulance would be of benefit, such as reducing safety risks to other crew members, due to fatigue, greater county coverage, response time, employee retention, less wear on current ambulances, and increased revenue due to transfers,” Director Hale explained.
Hale continued, “Currently, during weekends the county has coverage provided by two ambulances. When hospital transfers occur, there is only one ambulance remaining to provide county wide coverage. During these times of single ambulance coverage, other calls occur and leave the county uncovered requiring these calls to wait for mutual aid (out of area ambulances) to arrive. Within the last year, there has been 3,744 responses, 2,782 transports with a total of 175 out of county transfers on the weekends. A Saint Thomas EMS unit has transferred 90 of these calls due to a (DeKalb EMS) ambulance being out of the county on a transfer, resulting in lost revenue to the county,” Hale continued.
Director Hale is requesting the county to fund three full-time paramedics, or AEMTS, EMTS, to staff the day truck operations. According to Hale, the two day truck crews would alternate between two and three-day shifts.
Director Hale also made a request for funds to purchase and install the Stryker loading systems on four ambulances at a cost of $25,000 each. The systems help with the loading and unloading of patients, and help prevent back injuries amongst EMS crews. The systems would also be funded through either state or federal grant funding or local capital projects monies.
In addition, Director Hale said he is applying for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant to purchase three mechanical Lucas Chest Compression devices. The devices deliver automatic chest compressions with minimal risk of interruptions during patient transport. If approved the county would have to fund a five percent grant match of about $3,125.
Hale is also asking for funding for a newer four-wheel-drive EMS SUV, with an equipment package. “An SUV would be of benefit for response to 911 calls providing the space for necessary equipment in case of mass casualties, the capabilities to reach destinations with difficult access as well as use in traveling to trainings for continuing education. The current EMS vehicle is a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria with approximately 160,000 miles which does not have adequate space for the equipment needed and requires constant maintenance,” Director Hale explained. Options for the SUV range from $26,634 to $35,457 according to three proposals quoted by Director Hale.
