During his last meeting as the EMS Director, Mark Harrison provided Caldwell County Fiscal Court with an update Thursday morning about the current status of ambulances and personnel.
According to Harrison, in the 7 years that ComCare has been in the county, Fiscal Court has purchased and taken possession of four new ambulances with a fifth ambulance purchased and set to arrive in December 2024. Considering the two-year delivery time for ordering a new ambulance, he proceeded to provide an update on the average mileage of the existing ambulances.
click to download audioHarrison highlighted the current cost of the remount, which is estimated to be around $116,000, which is approximately $175,000 today. District 4 Magistrate Jeff Simms emphasized the importance of taxpayers comprehending the financial implications associated with ambulance procurement.
click to download audioHarrison emphasized the significant strain that EMS is currently under both nationwide and in Kentucky, especially in terms of personnel.
click to download audioHe further explained that the mileage per ambulance has slightly increased in the last couple of years, while the number of runs has remained relatively consistent. However, he highlighted that one significant change since COVID is the rise in hospital transfers due to primarily the shortage of staff at hospitals in the area.
click to download audioHarrison retired at the end of December after serving as the Caldwell EMS director for 7 years and a career in healthcare spanning four decades.
