CareMed EMS, an Oxford-based ambulance provider, took over Newton County’s ambulance service Friday, with three brand-new ambulances ready to roll.
Emergency Management director Brian Taylor said Friday entering all the necessary data into the county’s computers would be an all-hands-on-deck effort. Set to begin the process at 5 p.m., he said he expected the software change would take several hours.
“We’ll be here most of the night,” he said.
Although a long night was expected, Taylor told the Newton County Board of Supervisors Monday the necessary changes had been made in good time, with CareMed fully integrated at 6 p.m.
“Everything went as smoothly as possible with the switch over,” he said.
Taylor said staff from both CareMed and the outgoing provider, PatientCare, worked together with county staff to make the transition go well. In fact, he said, CareMed paramedics responded to their first call, an infant choking on a French fry at Wards, seconds after the transition was complete.
Christopher Ellis, director of operations for CareMed EMS, said the same system for calling an ambulance will be in place. Residents will not need to call a separate number.
“Residents should do the same thing,” he said. “They should call the same number.”
Stan Alford, owner of CareMed EMS, said he wanted his company to not only provide outstanding ambulance service but also become part of the community. CareMed will make a point to be at football games, parades and other community events to support Newton County from both a medical and a community partner standpoint.
Alford said he has a personal interest in Newton County’s contract with his company as well as a professional one. Although CareMed is based out of Oxford, he said his wife is originally from Union, and many of his extended family still live in the area.
CareMed won the bid to provide three ambulances to Newton County in December with a bid of $25,000. The county had previously contracted with LifeCare EMS, which was purchased by PatientCare EMS. That contract was set to expire January 1; however, a one-month extension was negotiated for $5,000 to allow time for the county to get CareMed set up.
CareMed’s contract with Newton County began 12:01 a.m., February 1. The contract is for a 3-year term, with a cost to the county of $25,000 for the first year and a 3-percent increase each year.
For ambulance service, Taylor said CareMed is operating three ambulances out of the same locations in Union, Newton and Decatur previously used by PatientCare. A fourth ambulance, which is owned by the county, is planned for service as a call-in vehicle, however CareMed is still working on developing guidelines for when to use the call-in ambulance and when to seek mutual aid assistance from neighboring counties.
