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A portion of Rockbridge County’s revenue recovery funds from emergency medical service calls is to be used to pay for medical equipment much needed by EMS crews.
The Board of Supervisors on Monday authorized paying $362,961 for this equipment – $191,075 for 11 mechanical chest compression devices and $171,886 for four power patient loading systems.
Nathan Ramsey, the county’s EMS and fire services chief, explained that the chest compression devices are to be given to each of the county’s 11 EMS departments to improve the quality and outcome of chest compressions for patients in cardiac arrest. The power load systems, which make it easier for crews to load patients into ambulances, are to be given to the Glasgow, Fairfield, Kerrs Creek and county EMS departments.
The equipment purchases are expected to lead to savings in personnel expenditures since fewer people will be needed to assist with EMS calls. The Rockbridge County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Commission reviewed and recommended the purchases.
Ramsey reported that the revenue recovery funds, which come from billing insurance companies for EMS calls answered, stood at $1,783,022, prior to the purchase of the equipment.
It is projected that $375,000 in revenue recovery funds will be generated in fiscal year 2024 budget, said Ramsey. A surplus of $50,000 is anticipated that would go into a restricted account.
Supervisors Leslie Ayers and Bob Day, who serve on a committee that vetted the equipment purchases, both spoke in favor of approving the expenditures. “I wholehearted support these measures,” said Ayers. “We should support our volunteers and staff,” added Day.
On a motion by Ayers that was seconded by Day, the supervisors voted 5-0 to approve the equipment purchases.
