County Officials Press Priority Ambulance for Answers, Accountability

HUNTINGDON (October 12) — Carroll County officials and first responders are calling for greater accountability and improvements in ambulance service following reports of delayed emergency responses that have raised concerns about the availability of emergency medical care throughout the county.

During a public forum moderated by County Mayor Joseph Butler, police and fire officials described incidents in which patients waited extended periods for an ambulance. County commissioners questioned Priority Ambulance representatives about staffing, dispatch procedures, hospital transfers and coverage in rural communities.

The discussion centered on whether Priority has sufficient resources to meet the county’s emergency needs and what measures can be taken to improve service.

McKenzie Police Chief Ryan White described a recent traffic crash in which a woman reportedly waited approximately 48 minutes for an ambulance. Although local first responders arrived quickly, no ambulance was available in Carroll County.

White said the delay placed responders in a difficult position, forcing them to weigh the patient’s immediate medical needs against the potential liability of transporting someone without an ambulance.

McKenzie Fire Chief Brian Tucker described another emergency involving an unresponsive patient whose blood sugar was reportedly near 600. Fire personnel responded, but the ambulance had to travel from Paris, resulting in an approximately 28-minute wait.

Both incidents highlighted concerns that local police and fire departments are increasingly being relied upon to provide emergency medical assistance while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

The issue has become particularly important since the closure of McKenzie’s hospital in 2018, which left residents dependent on emergency medical transportation to reach hospitals outside the community.

Several participants expressed concerns about the availability of ambulances when units are transporting patients to hospitals outside Carroll County. 

Commissioner Walter Smothers questioned the history of ambulance coverage and suggested exploring a second provider to encourage competition and improve service.

Priority Ambulance Regional President Reg James acknowledged shortcomings in communication and follow-through and outlined proposed changes to improve coverage.

James said the company plans to dedicate three ambulances to 911 emergency calls while working toward having four units available during October and periods of increased demand. Under the proposal, hospital-to-hospital transfers would be handled separately from ambulances dedicated to emergency calls.

The change is intended to prevent routine transfers from leaving the county without sufficient emergency coverage.

James also agreed to provide more detailed performance information, including response times, dispatch delays, crew certification levels and ambulance availability.

Commissioner Morris Rogers questioned whether Priority could provide one or two additional ambulances specifically for interfacility transfers, including lengthy trips to Nashville hospitals.

James said the company could explore temporarily relocating ambulances from other service areas but cautioned that shifting resources would not necessarily provide a sustainable long-term solution.

Commissioner Curt Taylor questioned how dispatchers determine whether a call requires an advanced life support ambulance or a basic life support unit.

James said the standard is to dispatch advanced life support coverage, although basic life support units have been sent on some occasions.

Commissioner Jason Martin raised concerns about ambulance availability beyond McKenzie and Huntingdon, particularly in rural communities such as Westport.

James explained the difficulty of positioning ambulances throughout a geographically large county. While placing units in higher-volume communities allows crews to respond to more calls, residents in less populated areas may face longer response times.

The challenge, commissioners said, is ensuring dependable service throughout Carroll County rather than concentrating available resources in its larger communities.

Much of the discussion turned toward establishing a formal oversight process that would allow county officials and first responders to regularly review Priority’s performance.

A proposed EMS oversight committee could include representatives from law enforcement, fire departments, healthcare providers, county and municipal governments, and the public.

Commissioner Dan Willman suggested incorporating ambulance oversight into the existing Local Emergency Planning Committee structure, which already brings emergency personnel and local officials together.

James expressed willingness to participate in an oversight process, whether through a new committee or an existing organization.

Commissioner Jay Phipps emphasized the importance of transparency, cooperation and clearly established expectations. He also encouraged officials to consider whether the county’s emergency medical response system needs broader changes rather than relying entirely on temporary solutions.

Other possibilities discussed included temporarily assigning additional ambulances during periods of high demand and exploring whether fire department paramedics could help staff an ambulance when additional coverage is needed.

No final decisions were made on those proposals.

Kevin Redd, representing Baptist Health, reaffirmed the healthcare system’s commitment to its partnership with Priority Ambulance and said Baptist would hold the company accountable for meeting expectations.

Redd also discussed plans for an emergency room expansion that would significantly increase the facility’s size.

Throughout the forum, Butler encouraged participants to focus on practical solutions and continued cooperation rather than assigning blame.

While Priority outlined plans to strengthen staffing and separate emergency responses from hospital transfers, commissioners emphasized the importance of obtaining reliable performance data to determine whether those changes produce measurable improvements.

The proposed oversight process would provide a regular opportunity to review ambulance availability, response times and complaints while identifying problems before they result in additional delays.

For local police officers and firefighters, the concerns extend beyond staffing figures and response-time reports. They are often the first to arrive at an emergency, providing whatever assistance they can while waiting for an ambulance capable of transporting the patient to a hospital.

County officials are expected to continue examining Priority’s proposed changes, reviewing performance information and determining how an oversight committee should be organized.

The forum ended without a final resolution, but with a shared recognition that dependable ambulance coverage is essential to public safety.

For Carroll County residents, the ultimate measure of success will not be the number of meetings held or promises made, but whether an ambulance is available when someone calls 911.