SALEM, W.Va. — State Director of Emergency Medical Services Jody Ratliff is concerned about the recent decision to close Salem EMS in Harrison County, but he believes there are many positive trends.
Ratliff said he received a call from a Salem EMS employee Monday after the vote was taken. The conversation wasn’t about the factors that forced the closure, but about how to handle the equipment and medications during the closure.
“It was more or less just on the procedures they needed to follow to take care of the DEA products and stuff like that to make everything was done appropriately,” Ratliff said.
In the last two years, legislators have provided additional funds for training and operations, purchased five simulation ambulances for certification and training, reduced the cost of certification renewals, and created pathways for veterans with EMS certifications to augment the force.
“Legislation did a lot for EMS,” Ratliff said. “They did more in the last session than has ever happened in this state, and that was a huge step, and we’re excited to see the benefits of that coming soon.”
Ratliff said that across the state, some areas are functioning better than others, but across the board, more municipalities are taking steps to shore up EMS units.
“We’re starting to see a little bit of a turnaround from the counties,” Ratliff said. “I’ve spoken to three or four counties in the last week that are starting to have meetings to look at funding for EMS.”
Ratliff said across the state there is some improvement, but it is primarily in areas where units are properly funded and staffed.
“At the end of the day, the counties that step up and provide funding have better response times,” Ratliff said. “They’re more solid with their EMS agencies, fire departments, and things like that.”
Many state lawmakers have talked about designating a permanent funding source through the state for EMS units annually. Ratliff said Chapter 7 and Article 15 of the West Virginia Code designate county commissions as those responsible for providing emergency ambulance services, and that could be the focus of debate as the next legislative session approaches.
“I think what we’ll see in the next session is more direction toward the counties because, under Code 715, it is the responsibility of the county commissions,” Ratliff said. “I think we’ll see some stuff from the EMS Coalition come out about that.”