Keeping pace with ever-changing advancements in equipment and technology is a priority for the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team at Regional West Garden County Hospital.
The hospital’s staff of four full-time paramedics and two EMTs offers round-the-clock coverage for the county’s residents.
Recently, a new ambulance was placed in service for the facility, and another one will be arriving soon. The new equipment allows the staff an upgraded work space in which to take care of their patients.
“It’s got more room in it, so they can keep their supplies in better order and carry more if they need to,” said Regional West Garden County CEO Brad Howell.
Paramedic Deanna Turner said extra interior room around the cot enables her accessibility to place an IV or to assess and address a patient’s injuries.
“I now have access all the way around the patient,” said Turner. “There’s room to move. There is room for extra crew if we need to include a firefighter with us.”
Extra interior room comes with a more functional cot, according to EMT Calvin Turner, Deanna Turner’s husband as well as partner on the ambulance. The side rails on the cot will fold, much like butterfly wings, allowing the capability to handle patients up to 700 pounds, if necessary.
Covering the 1,731 square miles within Garden County, it’s important to have reliable equipment.
“It’s a really large county, so having dependable EMS transportation is critical,” said Regional West Garden County CEO Brad Howell. “Having good equipment is essential to providing exceptional care.”
Calvin Turner said it’s nice to operate with the newer equipment.
“When we go on calls, we now have the newer technology,” he said. “We have good equipment. It shows the community that we are here for them, and that Regional West cares for the community.”
In addition to added room for patient care and more storage for supplies, the unit is equipped with a new radio system that allows the driver to be in communication with the 911 dispatch system. At the same time, medics in the back can communicate directly with hospital staff as they work with the patient. Previous units only allowed for a single line of communication at a time.
Deanna Turner said for the entire Garden County EMS staff, the patient is the priority. She said the team understands that they’re likely seeing their patients on that person’s worst day and at their most vulnerable.
“We’re a big team, and we all work together to support our patients,” she said. “Patient care comes first for every one of us.”
Howell said the EMS team’s dedication shows in their work.
“When there’s a crisis, when they have a difficult situation, they really pull together and really work well together,” he said. “Really good people. The commitment to the community shows it’s more than a job to them.”
