An Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Oversight Committee made up of representatives from St. Mary’s Health Care System, Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center and Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties’ governments has released a regarding local EMS service.
The statement reads, “the organizations are confident in the high-quality and timely care provided by National EMS.”
The company has come under fire recently by the activist group Athens for Everyone which claims National EMS does not meet response times.
Robby Atkins with National EMS is Director of Operations with National EMS.
“Well it’s good feeling after some of the stuff that’s come out,” Atkins said. “It’s a really good feeling for all of our 100 employees in the area and the service that we do and provide, that we are being watched and looked at through the oversight committee. We’ve been here since 2009 and they are happy with our performance and we’re always striving to be the best we can,”
Clarke and Oconee County governments pay $100,000 each year to National EMS. St. Mary’s and Piedmont Regional also contribute.
Assistant Clarke County Manager Jestin Johnson says the county has a good relationship with National. Johnson says it would cost the county $4.5 to 5 million to start its own ambulance service. Athens and Oconee Counties both contribute 100,000 per year to National EMS. St. Mary’s and Piedmont Athens Regional hospitals also contribute.
“Only five ambulance services in the state of Georgia are accredited and all of the five are private companies.”
The EMS oversight committee was formed under terms of the contract. The committee is composed of seven members: two appointed by each hospital, one by the mayor of Athens-Clarke County, one by the Oconee County Board of Commissioners, and one from the public appointed jointly by the hospitals. National EMS representatives advise the committee but do not have voting rights.
National EMS responds to 911 calls from four different locations and two staging areas within Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties with 8 to 13 ambulances covering the service area.
