Ambulance Service Board of Directors Met

By PJ Martin

Editor

The Herald-News

 

The Ambulance Service Corporation, Inc. Board of Directors met on Wednesday, October 22nd, at the Community Center in the TJ Health Pavilion.

The meeting was called to order, and a roll call was performed with the following individuals present: Judge/Executive Jamie Byrd, Judge/Executive Larry Wilson, Garland Gilliam, Ervin Sorrell, and Phillip Gearlds. Also in attendance were Attorney Brian Pack, Executive Director Joe Middleton, Executive Secretary/Treasurer Shawn Estes, and from The Herald-News, PJ Martin. Dr. Neil Thornbury was absent due to a death in the family.

The minutes from the August 27, 2025, meeting were reviewed and approved with no changes.

 

Finance Report

Executive Treasurer/Secretary Shawn Estes presented the finance report for August as having total adjusted receipts totaling $590,691 and total adjusted expenses of $502,411, which leaves the net income as $88,280. The total cash available was $1,432,133.87.

The August financial report was approved with no discussion.

Estes then presented the finance report for September as having total adjusted receipts of $582,284 and total adjusted expenses of $$652,467, which left a loss of $70,183 for September. Estes noted that there were 3 payrolls in the month, which contributed to the loss. The total cash available was $$1.171,050.94, of which $474,549.80 is operating funds and $696,501.14 is CDs.

The September financials were also approved.

 

Operations Reports

Executive Director Joe Middleton began the operational reports by looking at the Response Report. “It shows the percentages in the last column and our response times to each one of those areas. Airport has made 3,448 runs (YTD), which is 32.05 % of the volume.

Headquarters has made 5,717 runs (YTD), which is 53.15 % of the volume, and Metcalfe is at 1,592, which is 14.80 % of the volume.”

 

Next, Middleton reviewed the Operations Report showing the chute times are at 1 minute 15 seconds. The response time across the county is 10 minutes or 21 seconds. The time on the scene is 16 minutes, and the transport time of 13 minutes and 56 seconds.

The total turnaround time at the hospital is 27 minutes and 36 seconds for a total overall call time just short of one hour, with 59 minutes and 4 seconds.

 

A new report was added to the packets, which shows the ambulances and how many hours they are logging, and lists repairs and how long they were out of service. Middleton noted that for August, the trucks were at a productivity level of 88.7%. He added that they want 90% or great; however, several ambulances were in declining repair, and some have since been replaced.

 

Clinical Report

Middleton stated that out of 1,432 EMS responses, a total of 496 were reviewed, and 17 critical incidents were identified. The conclusions and recommendations were to continue reviewing for identification of issues, provide rapid feedback, and target the education of items as identified.

As far as training, there are 4 students who began Immersion EMT training in early September and are expected to complete before Thanksgiving. Two began Immersion AEMT training mid-September, and one is ahead of schedule. All the paramedic students are going through clinical rotations and are expected to complete the program on time.

In the old business, Middleton handed out RFPs to seven of the eight vendors at the conference with hopes of receiving responses.

In the new business, seven old ambulances are for sale to a New Jersey buyer for the amount of $30,000. Two of those need to be designated surplus by the board first. The request was approved, and the sale of all seven old ambulances was approved.

Middleton presented a Cardiac Monitor Replacement Proposal to the board, which included a 3-year phase of replacement. The plan was to purchase six Stryker LP35 cardiac monitors, with each phase using the sale of the surplus ambulances $30,000, requesting $28,391 of the Barren County Opioid Abatement Funds, and financing the rest with a three-year loan. Also included in the purchase was a Lucas chest Compression and its accessories for $19,680. The cost of 6 units and accessories, plus the one Lucas Device, is $285,391.70. The prices are locked in until January.

“We need to maintain six monitors on the road at all times and have three to four monitors in backup, explained Middleton.

When asked about the lead time, Middleton replied, “If I place the order tomorrow, we take delivery in January.”

During the discussion, it was stated that the grant applied for will not be awarded until next year.

After a short question and answer about the urgency of replacing the monitors, Gilliam said, “I think this is a good plan, good homework, good plan. But personally, I would rather not approve anything until we get to that point.

It was decided to table the decision until the December meeting.

The next meeting is scheduled for December 10, 2025, at 4 p.m. in Barren County.

With no other business, the meeting adjourned.