The Cherokee County Communications District officials tells WEIS Radio News Floyd EMS will roll into service at 12 am, October 1st. They tell us two ambulances are Ford E-350 Type 3 Braun units and one 2018 Ford Transit Type 2 Unit. All units are equipped with the P25 Radio system to communicate with Central Dispatch. For now, we are told one unit will be stationed in Cedar Bluff with the other two stationed at Floyd Cherokee Medical Center. Floyd EMS will continue to monitor call volume and determine if ambulances need to be stationed in other communities throughout Cherokee County in order to provide the quickest response times possible.
During the past 18 years Emergency Medical Services have been provided by Cherokee EMS with funding from the Cherokee County Health Care Authority. From 2008 through 2018 a total of $4,609,577 was paid to Cherokee EMS for services provided. This amount represents 48 percent of the tax funding received by the Health Care Authority during this 10 year period.
On August 29th Cherokee EMS Board of Directors informed the Health Care Authority as of 12 midnight on September 30, 2018 they would no longer provide Emergency Medical Services/Ambulance Service to residents of Cherokee County. The Public Notice issued by the EMS Board stated they had been engaged in discussions with Floyd regarding a partnership arrangement that would allow Cherokee EMS to continue providing services in Cherokee County. During the discussions, negotiations broke down and they were at an impasse. So the Cherokee County Communications District was obligated by State Law to ask for bids for the service. A total of 5 bid packets were sent out with only two being returned. The two entities were Redmond EMS and Floyd EMS with only Floyd’s bid meeting or exceeding the bid specifications.
Officials with the Cherokee County Health Care Authority and Communications District tells WEIS Radio News, Cherokee County residents can be assured they will receive professional Emergency Medical Services from Floyd EMS. In addition to the Ambulances Floyd will provide a 2018 Ford Explorer Supervisor’s Emergency First Response Unit, access to EMS and trauma back up fleet of three additional specialized units through mutual aid. Also, Floyd will make available, upon need, a 15 patient Disaster Response Bus, a Neonatal Intensive Care Ambulance, Specialized Bariatric Ambulance, A Bio-Hazard Response Unit, Specialized Disaster and Event Response Trailers, and Specialty Built UTV, Bikes And Golf Carts.