Montgomery County Fire/EMS is responsible for delivery of emergency medical services to an estimated population of 25,000 people living in a geographic area of approximately 200 square miles. What was originally a funeral home and hospital based service during the 1970’s is now a fully functioning Advanced Life Support service answering approximately 6500 calls per year. We have 3 ambulances on duty each day with 2 of those being equipped with paramedics at an ALS level, and the third being a Basic Life Support unit staffed by 2 EMT’s. Due to us being a combination fire and EMS service, we are also able to staff our 3 reserve ambulances fairly quickly when the emergent need arises.
Medicine has been changing rapidly throughout the years and MCFDEMS has taken great pride in being able to offer the citizens of Montgomery County a level of service not typically seen in other Kentucky counties. With a commitment to offer a progressive, evidence-based medicine in a compassionate environment,
Medical Director Dr. Greg Jones is setting the standard at a very high level for the EMS staff. Through continuing education and a quality assurance programs, along with a progressive mindset, the EMT’s and paramedics at MCFDEMS are constantly looking at how improve the field-level medical treatment that is delivered to our residents.
In the last couple of years we have added 12-lead EKG capability, CPAP, CO2 monitoring, along with several medication improvements. In 2008 we developed a partnership with the Lexington Clinic Cardiology Group, St. Joseph Health system, and Air Methods implement what we are calling our CODE STEMI program. In essence, once EMS has determined that a patient is having a ST-elevation myocardial infarction, we are able to transmit our 12-lead EKG directly to a physician and by utilizing Air Methods flight service, send the patient directly to a cardiac cath lab at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington. This program should prove to be invaluable to our residents, and by cutting down some of the barriers, enable them to enter the system faster and allow for a better chance of minimizing cardiac damage.
2009 should bring about more changes to our local EMS as the nation’s healthcare system evolves. As in the past, we will have our ear to the ground and be willing and able to adopt our mission to meet the needs of the residents of Montgomery County.
