Priority Ambulance Service hosts open house at its new operations center

Priority Ambulance, which operates Union County ambulances for Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County, opened its new operating center to the public Wednesday, Sept. 14.

Until recently, Priority’s operations were run from the hospital campus. The new operations center is located on the east side of Highway 15 North, across the highway from New Albany High School. Priority management believes the new location will improve response times because of better access to Interstate 22 and other principal roads.

New Albany Police Chief Chris Robertson and EMT Jada Coker are shown during the Priority open house.

The new center provides comfortable sleeping accommodations, showers and a complete kitchen for EMT’s, who sometimes work 24-hour shifts.

In negotiations with the Union County Board of Supervisors, Priority Ambulance recently agreed to put an additional ambulance vehicle and crew in regular service in Union County. This was in response to numerous complaints of slow response times during the years since Priority took over ambulance operations from Baptist.

The county board was prepared to pass an ordinance with detailed and strict requirements that would give it a measure of regular oversight of ambulance operations. Because of the negotiated commitment from Priority to improve service, county officials have, for now, tabled any action that would give them direct oversight of ambulance operations.

As in the past, the New Albany Fire Department (NAFD) will continue to perform as first responders. The NAFD performs rescue operations, such as extracting passengers from wrecked motor vehicles and providing immediate first aid and CPR if ambulance crews have not arrived. NAFD Chief Mark Whiteside said that the fire department, as in the past, will have no role in ambulance operations.

County Board discusses ambulance service: https://newalbanyunionco.com/priority-responds-to-complaints-promises-improved-ambulance-services/