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EMS Services director says WVU Medicine Camden Clark ambulance service going strong

By Brett Dunlap 4 min read

PARKERSBURG -- Ambulance service in the area is going strong since the recent closure of St. Joseph's Ambulance Service and the increase in ambulances and personnel for Camden Clark, hospital and local officials said.

Shawn Marshall, manager of EMS Services at WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center, said normal operations are continuing throughout the county and there have been no interruptions in EMS services since the changeover at the beginning of April.

"It was very smooth," Marshall said.

St. Joseph's Ambulance Service ceased operations after Monday, March 31. The closure was announced on March 17.

Camden Clark initially hired around 38 people over the past couple of weeks, many former St. Joseph's Ambulance Service employees. As of Thursday, that number was up to 43, Marshall said.

"We are continuing to take applications, reviewing them and bringing more people on board," he said.

Camden was also able to purchase six ambulances from St. Joseph's Ambulance Service with over $900,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds provided by the Wood County Commission, as well as another two ambulances from the Belpre Volunteer Fire Department and a response vehicle and wheelchair van from St. Joseph's through funding provided by the Camden Clark Foundation and Auxiliary.

"With us being the only county service right now, it has allowed us to better serve the community," Marshall said. "We can strategically place ambulances and reduce the response times."

Three ambulances are being placed at the Southgate Center to better cover the southside, have a faster response to Mineral Wells, provide mutual aid to Wirt County and more, he said, adding they are working on a deal to place an ambulance at the Wood County 911 Center.

"It is the perfect place to stage an ambulance because you can go north or south on I-77," Marshall said, adding it also provides quick access to U.S. Route 50. They are also maintaining stations in Williamstown and St. Marys.

SUV vehicles will be utilized to handle calls that might not need a full ambulance crew, like when someone falls and needs help getting back up. This helps address the situation without having to tie up an ambulance. Patients will not be transported in these vehicles.

Hospital officials said this vehicle will also be utilized to carry blood so a patient who has suffered a trauma and needs a transfusion out in the field can have blood brought in one of these vehicles.

Marshall was thankful for the community's and the hospital's support during this time as well as all the former St. Joseph's employees who have joined them and will help them continue to grow their services and provide better service to the community.

"Where we are at right now will allow us to continue emergency services as they were. The more staff we bring on the better we are going to be able to serve the community," he said.

Assistant Wood County 911 Director Dale McEwuen said Thursday dispatchers were telling him that the response times are good and the communication with all the ambulance crews was very good.

"They have not had any stacked calls," (where someone has to wait until a crew has cleared another call, he said.

"A lot of them started the night of St. Joe's closure," McEwuen said. "They just changed uniforms and started with Camden Clark.

"They are still hiring crews, but there are no shortages right now."

Marshall said everyone they hired will be working, starting this coming week.

Camden Clark has a fleet of 19 ambulances and two response vehicles, he said.

Wood County Commission President Blair Couch said they were really excited about what is happening with emergency medical services.

"Camden Clark is doing all the right things," Couch said "Our 911 center is doing the right thing. It is all working smoothly.

"We are looking forward to checking in another month to see how it is going."

Many of the ambulances were having their old markings taken off and Camden Clark's put on. Crews have been utilizing the drive-through bays at the Wood County Resiliency Center to do the work.

"Some still have some of the red left, but it is going really well," Couch said. "We are happy they had that facility to use and keep them out of the weather."

Wood County Commissioner Robert Tebay was happy with the progress being made with ambulance services.

"I am really excited about it," he said.

Couch said these changes will help better serve the people of the community with expanded ambulance coverage and better deployment of crews and equipment.

"We are excited for them to make little changes that may have huge benefits," Couch said.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com

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