First responders saw increase in 2016 medical calls

Emergency medical personnel have seen an influx of medical calls each year for several years now, including between 2015 and 2016.

The calls, which range in seriousness from help up from a fall to cardiac arrest, run through Union County’s communications center before being dispatched to the appropriate responding personnel.

GRMC

At Greater Regional Medical Center (GRMC), Casey Larson, paramedic and EMS/ambulance manager, said hospital EMS responded to 159 more calls in 2016.

“They were kind of all in the same 1,200 (call) range, the mid- to upper-1200s. But, now in 2016, we were mid-1400s,” Larson said.

The actual number of calls, the most common being for falls, chest pain and shortness of breath, is based on service area, which Larson said is normal for Union County; however, he is not sure why the number has increased.

“I feel like the ambulance is utilized quite a bit more than it used to be,” Larson said. “I really have no idea (why). People are just calling 911.”

There was also an increase in transports throughout the year, as well as simultaneous 911 calls.

“The number of simultaneous 911s is going up yearly,” Larson said. “The times we get two 911 calls essentially at the same time is gradually going up about 10 percent a year.”

While not responding to a call, paramedics and EMTs are assisting the nursing staff in the emergency department and various other departments throughout the hospital, keeping them busy. The EMS personnel has also increased since 2015, when more staff was taken on and scheduling changes were made.

“Generally, we’re busier. We’re a busier crew than we were five years ago, and we’ll be busier in five years than we are now,” Larson said. “2016 was a busy year, if you judge the numbers. It was quite a bit busier even in growth. Is that to say 2017 will be the same way? Our only assumption is that it will be just as busy because there seems to be steady growth. As far as tracking calls, you can always anticipate growth.”

Dispatch and fire

For dispatchers, sending one call a day through to further responding personnel is not uncommon. Sometimes, even getting several before noon can be normal.

“It really just depends on the day,” said Mark Williams, Union County chief dispatcher. “They’re steadily going up as your population increases and ages.”

Williams said recently, he and the other dispatchers have been paging out units for falls, cardiac events and diabetic issues, and most occur within the city limits of Afton and Creston, allowing for a decent response time from first responders.

Creston firefighters have also seen an increase of 135 calls since 2012. In 2012, firefighters responded to 622 calls, 2013 saw 636 calls, 2014 had 721, 2015 had 758 and 2016 had 757.

“Originally, when the fire department started responding, it was for life-threatening emergencies only,” said Creston Fire Chief Todd Jackson. “Then, it happened we were going on any call.”

Medical calls made up approximately 85 percent of calls firefighters responded to in the past. But, since November, firefighters have begun responding to fewer medical calls than before, sticking to emergent medical issues.

“We started filtering out the non-emergency (calls). It was just something we did to help the community and we still do, especially if it’s a necessary thing,” Jackson said. “But, just for several reasons, including the ISO (audit) issue, we just backed out of the non-emergency calls that’s not necessary for us to be there. It’s not really what we intended for it to be.”

While it will be difficult to tell if the reduced medical call volume for firefighters will reduce resource costs aside from less wear and tear on vehicles, as of Wednesday, firefighters have responded to 13 medical calls in 2017.

Jackson did say the reduced medical call volume should also help the current staff at the department. The majority of those staffed at the department during the day or night are full-time and part-time firefighters, some of which with second or third jobs, and some of which are volunteer firefighters. Having less non-emergent medical calls in the middle of the night will allow firefighters more rest before going to work the next day.

“As far as personnel stress, it helps reduce the stress,” Jackson said. “There’s other people doing EMS, and that’s their job. They’re being paid to transport those patients, and we’re not.”

Jackson said Creston Fire Department does not get reimbursed for responding to medical calls, and he plans to focus more on fire-related duties for the staff.

Williams said if anyone feels there is a medical emergency, to call 911 immediately. If not, contact a physician or go to Greater Regional’s urgent care clinic.