New Ambulance Service Prepares to Take Over Brown County Emergency Medical Needs

Lifeguard Ambulance Service began employee orientation and showed off some new equipment this week as they ready to take over Brown County’s emergency medical needs in January.

After Brown County officials, along with local municipalities, voted for the county to change ambulance service from Allegiance to Lifeguard, company officials began scurrying to secure leaseholds for offices, and begin to stock supplies that will be needed as service begins the first of the new year.

Wes Harrell, Director of Strategic Operations, stated that station locations have been secured in Brownwood, Early and Bangs and that the company continues to look for a station location in May to serve the northern part of the county. Harrell also stated that 85% of the EMTs who worked with Allegiance have been hired to work when the changeover takes effect. Corporate officials have been in town meeting and training new employees at Brownwood’s Fire Station No. 1 for the past three days.

Chris Furry, formerly with Heart of Texas EMS, has been named the EMS Chief and will run day to day operations for Lifeguard locally.

New equipment, including 4 brand new ambulances, have been acquired to serve the Brown County area and were on display Thursday morning for new hires and local officials. Three additional used ambulances will also be a part of the Lifeguard fleet. The ambulances and the quick response vehicle all are equipped with the latest technology, including Life Pack 12 monitoring units, rescue ventilators, LTV 1200 ventilators, and staff packs (also including pediatric staff packs). The quick response vehicle is typically driven by the chief and will have ample medical equipment to work any emergency scene until an ambulance can arrive for transport or to offer additional support when necessary, said Harrell.

“There’s basically an ER in the unit,” explained Harrell who said that the ambulances all have equipment to treat and stabilize patients before they are transported. Even the EKG machines are advanced, having the ability to transmit the reading to the physician before the patient arrives, and giving the ambulance crew the assurance of the doctor’s confirmation of events such as a heart attack.

Lifeguard officials state that the company strives to offer a “new culture” for their employees and patients. Investing over $1 million to start up the local service, the company is committed to service and is committed to meeting the emergency medical needs of the community. $750,000 of this investment was spent on the new ambulances and equipment, according to Harrell and Chief of Operations Joshua Spencer.

“This is very exciting and it’s been a lot of work. We have new equipment, our office is ready and now we are training,” said Harrell. “It’s exciting to be at this point, where everything is coming together.”

Harrell stated that Lifeguard is good company to work for, but can at times be a hard company to work for because of the high expectations.

“We want them (EMTs) to go the extra mile. 90% of our service is compassion, the other 10% is medical efforts,” said Harrell.

He stated that the new employees are excited to see everything coming together. “You can see smiles and excitement on their faces.” Many companies, he said, promise new equipment and certain benefits that often never materialize; but Lifeguard is starting off being true to their word, he explained.

Hospital officials, local nursing home representatives and the Lifeguard Medical Director, Dr. Kim Landry established protocols and get familiar with what to expect as the new service begins. Local fire departments are also meeting with Lifeguard officials to review protocols. Harrell stated these meetings are very important so that the emergency community becomes one team, striving to work together to do what is best for every patient in each situation.

Dr. Landry stated that he is a very strong patient advocate and that too is the company’s philosophy, “I want them (EMTs) to know that when they touch a patent it is if I am touching a patient or as if they are touching one of my family members,” said Dr. Landry. He explained that Lifeguard has equipped him with immediate access to EMTs as they are charting records; he can pull up these files immediately and advise EMTs or give feedback on how they could have improved their patient care.

Company officials are also working with the current provider, Allegiance, to coordinate a seamless conversion to the new service, said Harrell and Spencer.

Lifeguard Ambulance Service is owned by the parent company, Air Medical Group Holdings (AMGH) of Air Evac Lifeteam, which is the local medical helicopter service. Harrell explained that having the two companies under the umbrella of the parent company takes out all feelings of competition. The mission of the company is to do what is best for the patient at all times, whether it is to fly or drive them for treatment.

Spencer is one of the trainers for new employees, and began familiarizing them of the company’s history and pride of service.

“Our job is to make someone’s worst day better,” said Spencer.

Spencer stressed that customer service is key to the company’s success. He explained Lifeguard’s mission statement: To provide only the highest level of patient care and comfort available in the industry today.

“We are striving to change the face of medical transport, empowering our employees with a positive ‘can do attitude,’ offering our customers a variety of transport options and by demanding that excellence and quality service be attained in every aspect of our company,” explained Spencer during the training. “Lifeguard strives to be the leader in the medical transport industry.”

Lifeguard began in 1982, established by a small group of physicians to provide fast, comfortable, long distance transport for their patients to specialty care centers across the country. Since then, the company has expanded their ground operations throughout the Southeast United States, including offices in Birmingham, Alambama (where their current dispatch is also located); Pensicola, Florida; Nashville, Tennesee; Chattanooga-Knoxville, Tennesee; Santa Rosa County, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; Columbia County, Florida; Bay County, Florida; Houston County, Texas; and Brown County, Texas.

Pictured above are the four new ambulances on display at the Brownwood Fire Station 1. Below are more photos of the orientation and tour of the new vehicles.