Paris EMS - A History

CITY OF PARIS
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
SERVING ALL OF LAMAR COUNTY SINCE 1979
1991 TEXAS EMS PUBLIC PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

Paris EMS - A History

On September 1, 1979, the City of Paris began providing emergency and non-emergency ambulance service to the citizens of Paris and Lamar County. Prior to 1979, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Paris and Lamar County had been provided by funeral homes, a private service and by a hospital.

The Paris EMS station was located in the southwest portion of the current police station. This area was being used for storage and required remodeling for occupation. The remodel was assisted by off duty EMS personnel who created an office, kitchen, bedrooms, storeroom and bathrooms. Telephone requests for ambulance service were received and dispatched by the EMS shift supervisor at this time.

Two Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances were staffed 24 hours per day with one of the two attendants being a certified Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B). Personnel were on duty an average of 84 hours per week. This was before mandatory overtime rules were in effect.

In 1981 staff training was improved to allow two EMT-Bs on each ambulance. The average hours of work per week was also lowered to 72 hours by utilizing set shifts.

The level of care was increased to Advanced Life Support (ALS) in 1982, with the use of EMT-Intermediates. At that time the EMT-I was known as EMT-Special Skills. Crews were allowed to start IVs and intubate (placing a breathing tube into the patient’s lungs). The first EMS Medical Director, Dr Ed McCullough, authorized the utilization of these new skills in November 1982.

Throughout 1983 and 1984 EMS staff were attending paramedic school with the goal of improving the level of patient care to Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU). This goal and several other changes occurred in September 1984. EMS crews were now working an average of 56 hours per week. All EMS dispatching responsibilities were transferred to the Dispatch Division of the Paris Police Department.

In an effort to improve response times, Paris EMS relocated operations to stations provided by our two local hospitals. Northside EMS was located at McCuistion Hospital. Southside EMS was located at St. Joseph Hospital. This arrangement allowed the EMS crews to spend more time with the patient after arrival at the hospital. It also improved the skills of the EMS crews by working with the doctors and nurses in the ER.

Call volume increased over the next five years to the point that it became necessary to add a non-emergency transfer crew in 1989. This crew was responsible for the routine patient transports to doctors’ offices and discharges from the hospitals. They also handled extra emergency calls when the other emergency crews were busy.

In just ten years Paris EMS had increased the level of patient care to the MICU level. Two paramedics staffed each ambulance. Two emergency ambulances were staffed 24 hours per day. An additional ambulance was staffed 8-5 Monday – Friday. This was the arrangement for the next 12 years. In 2001 an additional emergency ambulance and crew of paramedics was added. The Eastside EMS district was created. The ambulance and crew were located on Pine Mill Road in close proximity to the population centers of the City of Reno and Blossom. Response times improved were significantly improved for the eastern district of Paris and Lamar County.

The Paris-Lamar County First Responder network is now comprised of 18 registered groups representing more than 150 trained medical personnel. Three of these groups are Industrial First Responders. These groups in conjunction with Paris EMS cover every square mile of Paris and Lamar County. The First Responders initiate patient care and assist the paramedics of Paris EMS with the care and transportation of our patients.

Another special group that volunteer for our community is the Paris EMS Reserves. This group staffs numerous events in the area. Examples include Kid Safe Saturday, Tour de Paris, Paris Art Fair, Paris Rodeo, Red River Valley Fair, football games, baseball games, Pumpkin Festival, Fill the Boot Fund Drive, car rallies and various motor sports. They also ride along with Paris EMS staff for experience and to supplement staffing. This group of 40 individuals meets on a monthly basis to train and plan events. Officers are elected on an annual basis.

The office staff that keeps track of all the paperwork and perform the billing function are essential to the quality of care and long term viability.

The Emergency Medical System that serves Paris and Lamar County has been evolving since 1979. Improving the system components has always been the goal of that evolution. Our mission statement helps Paris-Lamar County EMS focus on any changes being considered.

We look forward to the challenges of the future and we will meet them with this goal in mind: To care for our neighbors in the most professional, competent and compassionate manner possible.