32 | October 2021
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LEE COUNTY EMS TRANSITION
FIRSTHEALTH BEGINS EMS SERVICE nas. “It is an honor and privilege for FirstHealth to serve the Lee County community. I’m grateful to the citizens of Lee County and the Board of Commissioners for their continued support.”
From Staff Reports
FirstHealth Emergency Medical Services began serving the residents in Lee County needing immediate medical attention at midnight on Oct. 1. In a press release sent on Sept. 28, the county announced there would be no disruption of services during the transition, and residents will not need to do anything differently when calling 9-1-1 for assistance. Residents will be taken to the nearest medical facility, which, in most cases, will continue to be Central Carolina Hospital. “As we begin this transition in EMS services, the County is grateful for the 24 years of medical services provided by Central Carolina Hospital staff,” Lee County Commissioner Chairman Kirk Smith said. “I trust that FirstHealth of the Carolinas will continue to provide the professional service to the residents of our county.”
Lee County commissioners voted 5-2 in August to select FirstHealth of the Carolinas to take over EMS services for the county — Central Carolina Hospital EMS had held the contract since the 1990s.
FirstHealth Regional EMS provides 24/7 coverage 365 days a year of 911 emergency medical services for Chatham, Montgomery, Richmond and now Lee counties. With 45 ambulances and more than 150 employees, the FirstHealth Regional EMS System is one of the largest ambulance systems in North Carolina, covering more than 3,200 square miles.
“Our first patient transport, more than 25 years ago, has led to a long-standing history of providing exceptional ambulance services in multiple counties,” said Mickey Foster, chief executive officer for FirstHealth of the Caroli-
The system, including Critical Care Transport and Regional Medical Transport, responded to more than 26,000 calls with more than 22,595 patient transports and over 1,100,000 miles traveled over the last 12
months, according to the county.
Paramedic Tim Simmons has been named the director for FirstHealth Lee EMS. Simmons was previously the director of FirstHealth Chatham EMS serving in that role since February 2017. CAROLINA TRACE FD TO PROVIDE HOME FOR FIRST HEALTH AMBULANCE The Carolina Trace Fire Department announced a partnership with FirstHealth of the Carolinas that will “mean decreased response times and better patient care in emergency situations,” according to Chief Chris Meyers. One of FirstHealth’s four ambulances that will be serving Lee County will be housed at the Carolina Trace Fire Department 24 hours a day, as part of an approach to place units in strategic positions around the county, to improve response times.
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