Emergency Medical Services
Jennifer A. O’Neal
Washington County EMS Director
P.O. Box 96
Plymouth, NC 27962
252-791-1697 EMS
252-217-8333 Transport
252-793-1183 Fax
Email
EMS: [email protected]
Transport: [email protected]
Download EMS Standby Form Here
Welcome to Washington County Emergency Medical Services. Please contact our office if you have questions.
Mission Statement:
The Emergency Medical Services department is a system of highly trained professionals focusing on the Pre-hospital Delivery of medicine. Our mission is to serve all of our customers focusing on delivering high quality care to the sick and injured. We will strive to provide competent, compassionate, and professional serve all of our customers’ needs by continually raising our standards.
Vision Statement:
Our EMS system will strive for excellence in prehospital medicine by constantly raising the level of education and skill level of our providers. With this focus in mind, advancement and the delivery of Para-medicine will significantly impact our delivery of service. We will be integrated with other healthcare providers and public agencies which will result in an improved community health care system and a more appropriate use of acute healthcare resources.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) of the future will continue to be a community-based healthcare service that is fully integrated with the overall healthcare system. It will have the ability to identify and modify illness and injury risks; provide acute illness care and follow up; and contribute to the treatment of chronic conditions and community health monitoring.
About Washington County EMS:
Washington County EMS is the sole provider of Paramedic pre-hospital services to the entire population of Washington County. Our coverage area is approximately 332 sq land miles with large bodies of water surrounding the county and one lake. Call volume average approximately 3,000+ EMS calls and 1,200 Medical Transport calls a year. Washington County EMS also has a Command & Support unit that responds to assist with large-scale incidents, in and around neighboring districts for support functions. This is a Support Unit that has communication and full rehabilitation capabilities including HVAC and refrigerator/freezer units.
Medic units are staffed with personnel that respond to emergencies to assess and treat patients and also transfer patients to other tertiary facilities.
Washington County also has a State Medical Assistant Team (SMAT-III) that also responds to disasters and provides treatment, de-con, triage and medical support.
Washington County also provides a Non-emergency Medical Transport service that provides transportation of its county residents for out-patient procedures, physician follow-ups, and doctor’s appointments. Call for appointments and scheduling at 252-793-7636 Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Washington County EMS currently employs approximately 28 full-time EMS personnel and 4 full-time Medical Transport personnel. We also have a part-time pool of 24 EMS personnel that provide coverage for sickness, time off requests and other openings in our schedule.
Most EMS personnel work a fixed 24-hour schedule. Crews respond to many calls during their shifts. It is not unusual for crews to work the entire shift without the convenience of a normal meal time or personal breaks. On an average day, Washington County EMS answers an average of 9 calls a day with as many as 15-20 calls a day.
Washington County 911 Center:
Washington County Central Communications 9-1-1 is the first point of contact for most citizens requesting emergency medical assistance. The PSAP partnership between Washington County and its townships of Plymouth, Roper and Creswell answers 9-1-1 calls from citizens located inside Washington County and in the remaining portion of the county.
EMS Billing:
Ambulance billing is a very specialized business that requires a great deal of time and effort to process appropriately. Colleton Software, based out of Erwin, NC, is a company that works solely with ambulance bills which Washington County EMS contracts with to process all its ambulance claims. All payments go directly to Washington County accounts on a daily basis. This service provides you with dedicated staff to handle your healthcare claims needs, allowing Washington County EMS to continue to work hard to provide you with the best medical care possible.
For any questions about our billing process or bills please contact Colleton Software at 844-479-3227
FAQs
What are the qualifications for employment with Washington County EMS?
To be considered for employment with Washington County Emergency Medical Services, you must meet the following qualifications:
- High school graduate or GED certificate
- Must not have committed or been convicted of a felony or serious misdemeanor
- Able to meet the physically demanding requirements of the job
- Be a United States citizen
- Have or be able to obtain a valid North Carolina driver’s license
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a North Carolina certified Emergency Medical Technician or a nationally registered Emergency Medical Technician
What do I need to do to get a job with the Washington County Emergency Medical Services?
- Submit a completed application. Visit the Washington County Government Employment Opportunities Page.
- Pre-employment Testing (Written Test)
- Background Investigation
- Complete a formal interview process
(no particular order)
Is there an age requirement?
Yes, all applicants must be at least 18 yrs. old.
Do I have to become EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) certified to work for Washington County Emergency Services?
Yes, Washington County Emergency Services employs all EMS levels but EMT-Basic certification is the minimum qualification for employment. In addition to the EMT certification, all employees must have a valid operator’s license and be CPR certified.
How do I become certified as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician)?
The EMT-Basic course is offered by most community colleges. For more information contact your local community college.
What does the EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) course include?
This course is designed to train individuals to become emergency medical personnel. The student is exposed to emergency patient care through both classroom training and hands-on application. Topics include patient assessment, basic life support techniques (including airway management and CPR), oxygen therapy, treatment of shock, treatment of fractures, management of various medical emergencies and emergency childbirth. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be eligible to take the North Carolina OEMS Basic
Do I have to live in Washington County?
No
What are the benefits of working with the County?
Please visit the Human Resources Department page.
How long does new employee orientation last?
The new employee orientation is currently a 4 to 6 week period. During this time, all employees undergo training in topics like equipment orientation, navigation, scene operations, infectious diseases, driving and much more.