EMS crews handle big 2007 workload
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

L-N File Photo Part Of The Job El Campo EMS workers kick back only after a patient has been handed off safely to the crew of the Life Flight air ambulance out of Houston.

El Campo EMS treated 1,975 patients during 2007 - a total topping their last two years of efforts to help West Wharton County residents with injury and illness.

With the motto "We're There Because We Care," EMTs handled 1,103 cases involving medical needs and 794 incidents of trauma as part of 1,918 runs. During those calls for help, an additional 57 people were also assessed or treated.

In 2006, EMTs helped 1,807 patients while in 2005 the total was 1,949 and 1,988 in 2004.

Of 2007 calls, 375 involved more than one ambulance answering a call at the same time.

Calls for help are unpredictable and don't take turns.

To handle multiple calls at the same time, El Campo EMS added a day paramedic several years ago.

Last year, EMS Director Steve Appling went before Council asking to add a fulltime second crew for Fridays and Saturdays.

"Our greatest fear is that some day we are going to do an all call for the second ambulance and there will be no one to respond," Appling told Council while asking for the estimated $50,000 per year in new funds.

The city of El Campo has staffed one EMS crew 24 hours a day, seven days a week since shortly after its inception in 1971.

With the hiring of medicallytrained office staff in 2004, the department was able to have a second crew ready to roll Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. But nights, weekends and holidays required an "allcall" or general call for off-duty personnel to race to the station for a second or third crew when needed.

El Campo EMS keeps four ambulances fully stocked and ready to roll at all times. A fifth unit is kept in reserve and can be put into service when needed.

"This takes 10 to 20 minutes at times to get the second crew in," Appling said. "If more calls come in while the first and second ambulances are out, we have to call another off duty crew in and so on."

Once an El Campo ambulance rolls from the station, it generally arrives at its location in five minutes or less unless the distance (a call to Louise or Round Mott, for example) plays a factor.

"This was a cost effective way to resolve the problem," Appling said.

The part-timers, often EMT intermediates or basics, will pair with a full-time paramedic on weekends to ensure care standards remain at their highest level.

Despite the apparent spike in ambulance runs, the number of hospital to hospital transfers made by the emergency service department is continuing to decline. Last year, just 35 out of county transfers were made in comparison to 73 the year before. In 2005, the department made 128 out of county runs in comparison to 156 in 2004 and 162 in 2003.

Of the 375 calls not answered by El Campo's primary ambulance unit, 332 required two ambulances in service at the same time, 38 called for three units and in five cases four units were needed.

Of emergency calls, 328 required an "All-Call" or general broadcast for additional help.

An emergency transport helicopter has been called to take patients to Houston's trauma center 43 times during 2005.

A total of 59 patients were treated, but not transported and 807 either required no treatment or refused to go to the hospital.

Of all EMS calls during 2005, 63 percent have been within the city boundaries, 35 percent to county locations and just 2 percent out of county.