Cole County ambulance staff getting boost

A Cole County ambulance responds to a call in Jefferson City. (News Tribune file photo)
A Cole County ambulance responds to a call in Jefferson City. (News Tribune file photo)

The Cole County Commission has agreed to add more staff to the county ambulance service.

After meeting this week with officials of Paramedics Plus LLC, the county's consultant on ambulance service enhancements, the commission agreed to add four or five new personnel.

"One of those is probably going to be a supervisor and two others are going to dispatchers because they found the way we answer calls needs to be updated," Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman said. "The remaining newcomers would be EMTs."

In July, by a unanimous vote in a closed meeting, the commission made a change in leadership at the county's ambulance service after several ambulance personnel came to commissioners with concerns of low morale and how the operation of the service was being handled.

Mike Shirts was reassigned from ambulance service director to paramedic.

The commission engaged Paramedics Plus to work on system enhancements to the operation of the ambulance service, including a reorganization of personnel.

"We've probably got the advertising out now for a new director, and we hope to have that person in place by the end of the year," Bushman said. "The good news is that some personnel on our staff have expressed an interest in the job."

Cole County EMS has 75 employees, 45 full time and 30 part time. They have a fleet of 12 ambulances, 10 of which are active. The most ambulances on duty is seven and the least is four. The average peak call time is 1 a.m.-7 p.m.

Ambulances are based at five locations - the EMS base on Southridge Drive; the Regional West Fire Protection Station on Apache Trail; the Cole County Fire Protection Stations at Brazito and County Park; and Monday through Friday at the Cole County Jail.

The commission will start working on the 2017 budget in November and December and must have it completed by Jan. 10.