More than two weeks after the Patrick County Board of Supervisors signed a contract with Ambulance Services of Lexington Inc., doing business as Patrick County EMS, volunteers say they remain worried about what the agreement means for them and for the county’s ability to provide emergency medical services.
The contract transfers the county’s paid EMS staff, known as Station 8, from county oversight to management under Patrick County EMS.
County officials said the move was intended to address staffing challenges and rising costs, while ensuring 24/7 coverage for residents. Under the contract, county-owned equipment, vehicles, training gear, and pharmaceutical supplies will be transferred to the new provider. Supporters say the deal will improve coverage and streamline emergency services, but volunteers worry it sidelines their role, reduces access to equipment, and threatens the future of community-based squads.
Ararat Volunteer Rescue Squad member Jane Fulk said she believes the board should have included volunteer leadership in the discussion before turning over EMS assets and responsibilities to the hospital.
“One question from the board to the squads should have been do any of the squads need any of this equipment and would it be needed by the new EMS coordinator,” she said.
Fulk said handing pharmacy responsibilities to the hospital for the volunteer squads has the potential of shutting down the Advanced Life Support (ALS) drug box exchange.
“And with no plan in place that we’re aware of, the continuance of this practice is a problem for the volunteers,” she said.
She added that, under the contract, the county reverts back to an EMS coordinator as it had before, but all training gear is to be turned over to the hospital.
“Is this with the okay of the Western Virginia (EMS) Council? I’m sure the board is aware of these matters and is actively working on solutions,” Fulk said.
Some worry that the changes could eventually cause volunteer rescue squads to close. While that’s always a possibility, Fulk said the county cannot be covered by paid staff alone.
“I’m sure the board has thought about that because two ambulances can’t cover the whole county. Even with three, and my understanding the third is a backup for transports, three ambulances can’t cover the whole county. You’ll need the volunteer services,” she said.
Smith River Rescue Squad Captain Debbie Foley said her squad is taking time to review and assess all possible impacts of the board’s decision.
“Obviously, there will be many discussions in the upcoming days and weeks to determine exactly how this will affect all volunteer agencies, as our main focus remains providing lifesaving services to our citizens,” she said.
Former supervisor and Smith River member Crystal Harris said she was disappointed the board acted without consulting longtime EMS members.
Harris said some of the equipment listed in the contract was bought by the Fire and Rescue Association and through various grants.
“Not any of them was purchased for Station 8 alone, they were purchased by the emergency coordinators for fire and rescue use. That was never taken into consideration. It wasn’t just bought for Station 8, this was a county-wide grant system, and most of this equipment was bought before Station 8 started,” she said.
She added that monitors purchased for Station 8 trucks will not be used by Patrick County EMS, which plans to operate a different type of monitor in its ambulances.
“Why did they not give it back to the squads that were using them? That’s just a question that I have,” Harris said.
While unsure if the board consulted EMS Director Scottie Cassell, Harris said she knows they did not consult former EMS Coordinator Steve Allen, who secured many of the grants and “could have enlightened them on these things.
“I only wish the best and I fully support the hospital and intend to work with them in the capacity that I can by letting the people know how important they are to our community,” Harris said.
JEB Stuart Volunteer Rescue Squad President Derek Wagner also said his main concern involves Patrick County EMS assuming ownership of training equipment.
“A lot of this equipment was actually, if I remember correctly, was purchased by Patrick County Emergency Management under Steve Allen for the training of the volunteers and continued education of the volunteers,” he said.
To his knowledge, Wagner said, no volunteer agencies have been contacted by Patrick County EMS about returning the teaching equipment.
“We haven’t been contacted about any of that,” he added.
Wagner also expressed concern about operational logistics.
“From my understanding, they’re going to be en route to every call unless we (volunteer squads) disregard them and stuff like that. So, some operational and logistics concerns there,” he said.
Based on conversations, Wagner said Patrick County EMS intends to respond to every call but will disregard if volunteers confirm they will cover it.
“Is that a good thing? I think to an extent it would be a good thing for patient care, but my concern is the resources. We already have limited resources in this county. In this county there’s a lot of mileage in between other stations to get to these calls, so I just don’t want to see us tying up two ambulances on a call. Or say that medic truck gets tied up on a call and now a BLS (Basic Life Support) or lower certification truck is heading to a higher acuity call,” he said.
Vesta Volunteer Rescue Squad Captain Howard Alderman said adding three trucks through Patrick County EMS should improve coverage.
“My only concern would be is it going to be a better situation for the employees of Station 8 currently as well. We don’t have that information, we’re not privy to that of course as far as their pay or benefits, but would that be the same, better, or worse for them,” Alderman said. He noted this will affect the county’s ability to attract and retain employees.
On the issue of equipment, Alderman said he has already spoken with a supervisor to express hope that any items not used by Patrick County EMS will be made available to volunteer squads.
“I’m kind of like wait and see, I guess. If they’re able to sustain it then maybe it would be a viable option. My main concern is we fought so far to get the paid service years ago that if the hospital ambulance service decides that they want to stop providing the service, is the county going to be in a good enough position to fund and restart it,” he said.
E-911 Committee chairman and former Patrick County Emergency Services Coordinator Steve Allen said his main issue is that the county gave away all training equipment to the new paid service.
“Why would you give stuff away to a for-profit entity? Why are you giving our stuff away to a for-profit entity when some of that stuff was bought by fire and rescue funds that the county never gave money towards. I mean this is stuff that fire and rescue raised money to have for years and years and now they just give it away,” he said.
Years ago, when Lock Boyce served on the board of supervisors, Allen said volunteer squads wanted to hold training at their stations.
“So, we bought training trailers, and it’s got two classrooms in it. Some of the rescue squads didn’t have classrooms, they had their building wired, so when I would bring the trailer out, we could plug it up and it would have two rooms to do training in. The rescue squads were even on board with this because they wanted to do training at their stations,” he said.
According to an Aug. 25 presentation by Ambulance Services of Lexington Director Glynn Mooney, Patrick County EMS will handle all training.
Allen said it is unclear who will serve as the Educator Coordinator.
“You have to go to the Virginia Office of EMS and have a week-long class and pass the class before you can be an educator in the state of Virginia. I do not think they grandfather anybody in from another state,” he said.
Allen also questioned who wrote the contract and whether the county attorney reviewed it before the board signed.
“Why did they not ask people, or somebody that has a knowledge of the history of fire and rescue in the county for their input before signing it? From what I understand they didn’t involve anyone from the outside,” he said.
CCDF Volunteer Rescue Squad Captain Shana Baliles did not return calls for comment.
