Fire chief concerned over weekends; hospital cites help shortage
Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton said he wanted to let the people in Flomaton and throughout the Flomaton fire district to know that a D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital ambulance is not always stationed at the Flomaton Fire Station.
Stanton said since Jan. 1 there have been 20, 24-hour shifts where an ambulance was not stationed in Flomaton. He said most of the times it’s on the weekends.
Stanton said he couldn’t understand why hospital administrators are making six figures but a nine-year veteran paramedic is making $14.10 per hour.
In a statement from the Escambia County Health Care Authority, it noted that the D.W. McMillan EMS is dealing with the same issues that healthcare entities across the nation are dealing with, and that is a shortage of an available workforce.
Stanton said when there is a shortage of help, the ambulance from Flomaton is pulled and sent to Brewton, noting there was about a 30 minute wait to get an ambulance from Brewton to Flomaton.
Stanton said he understands the ambulance service is about six people short, which leaves the fleet short-handed.
“How can Atmore MedStar pay $27 per hour for paramedics and we’re paying $14?” Stanton asked.
One paramedic said paramedics in Greene County are paid $20 per hour.
Stanton noted that Flomaton had no ambulance stationed at the fire house Saturday while the girls’ softball tournament was going on, noting if one person had a serious injury it would take a while to get a response.
“I get tired of going to a fire or medical call and I’m asked if the ambulance is coming from the fire house and I say no,” Stanton said. “I’m not trying to upset anybody, I’m trying to move Flomaton to be a safer place to live.”
Flomaton didn’t have an ambulance stationed in Flomaton until Sept. 1, 1921, and relied on ambulances coming from Atmore, Brewton and sometimes Escambia County, Fla.
“D.W. McMillan EMS assumed responsibility for providing ground ambulance service in the greater Flomaton area in 2021,” said Jason Daniel, director of marketing and community affairs for the health care authority. “D.W. McMillan EMS provides 24/7 service 365 days a year to their service area in Escambia County in coordination with Escambia County E-911. As volumes fluctuate, the ambulance fleet may need to be adjusted to provide a coordinated model of care across Escambia County.”
Daniel noted in the event the hospital was not able to have a fully-staffed shift, ambulances may have to adjust the location of the ambulance fleet to ensure coverage of the county.
“Regardless of the locations, or number of active trucks in the fleet, the service area is covered at all times to respond to emergencies,” Daniel added.
“How in the Hell do you think by adjusting the ambulance service out of Flomaton is in the best interest of the county?” Stanton asked.
