The Escambia County Board of Commissioners (BCC) will consider a significant expansion of Emergency Medical Services at its June 5 meeting, adding 11 new full-time positions to address increasing call volumes and prepare for continued growth.
- Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore recommends adding 10 new paramedic positions and one EMS Logistics Chief to bolster the county’s emergency medical response capabilities. Read EMT_Request.
Why? Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics are in high demand across the healthcare industry, with limited qualified candidates available. Escambia County EMS has been actively recruiting talent to keep pace with rising call volumes while maintaining quality, timely care for residents and visitors.
- The department recently converted 10 paramedic positions to EMT roles. This request would restore those converted paramedic positions, ensuring the department maintains its advanced life support capabilities.
New EMS Logistics Chief
Beyond the paramedic positions, the county is seeking to create a new EMS Logistics Chief role. This position would oversee critical behind-the-scenes operations, including:
- Vehicle readiness and maintenance coordination
- Medical supply and medication inventory management
- Resource deployment for disasters and major incidents
- Compliance with local, state, and federal regulations for medical supplies
- Overall logistics efficiency improvements
The Logistics Division plays a crucial role in ensuring EMS crews can respond seamlessly to emergencies, handling everything from equipment readiness to regulatory compliance for controlled medications.
The Financial Picture
The staffing expansion carries a significant but manageable cost for Escambia County:
- Remainder of FY 2024-2025: $376,174 (salaries and benefits)
- Ongoing annual cost: $1,148,164
- Funding source: EMS Fund (408) reserves, which currently holds $7.7 million
The county plans to use Administrative Budget Amendment #ABA-25099 to transfer $376,174 from EMS reserves to cover the remainder of the current fiscal year.
The Board of County Commissioners will vote on this proposal during their Thursday, June 5 meeting. If approved, the 11 new positions would be added to EMS Cost Center 330302, with funding allocated through the current fiscal year ending Sept.30.