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Warren County Emergency Services

TO REPORT ALL EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, DIAL 911.
Emergency Services
540 West Ridgeway Street
Warrenton, NC 27589
Phone: (252) 257-2666
Fax (252) 257-9458
Hours: 8:30AM – 5:00PM Monday - Friday (After hours call 911)
Mission Statement
Warren County Emergency Services is a dedicated group of professionals committed to making Warren County a safe place to live and work. This is accomplished through, not only emergency response, but fire and accident prevention programs and public education. The Department of Emergency Services consists of mainly three disciplines: Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services, and Fire Marshal. Warren County Emergency Services is led by the Emergency Services Director/Fire Marshal, Chris Wright. For more information about your local Emergency Services office, please contact Gladys Favours, 540 West Ridgeway Street Warrenton, NC 27589; Phone (252) 257-2666.


Emergency Medical Services
Mission Statement
Warren County Emergency Medical Services strives to provide compassionate, high quality advanced life support care, cost effective pre-hospital emergency care and convalescent transport in a quick and efficient manner to the citizens and visitors of Warren County.
Medical Director
Dr. William Fowlkes
Staff

Chris Wright, Emergency Services Director
Dennis Paschall: EMS Coordinator / Paramedic
Vickie Ryder: Administrative Assistant

A Shift:
Barry Chandler: Supervisor / EMT-Paramedic
James Brinkley: EMT-Paramedic
Chris Tucker: EMT-Paramedic 
John Wilson: EMT- Paramedic

B Shift:
Tracy Hewlin: Supervisor / EMT-Paramedic
D.J. Wright: EMT-Paramedic
Wesley Norwood: EMT-Paramedic
Melissa Fitts: EMT-Basic

C Shift:
Laverne Jeffries: Supervisor / EMT-Paramedic
David Crocket: EMT-Paramedic
Tracy Pulley: EMT-Paramedic
Chris Pegram: EMT-Paramedic

Contact Information
540 West Ridgeway Street Warrenton, NC 27589
Ph (252) 257-1191 Fax (252) 257-7137
Business hours are: M – F 8:30 – 5 PM 

About EMS
For over 35 years Warren County EMS has provided Warren County with pre-hospital care. With a full staff of 13 personnel and 10 part-time, we operate two paramedic ambulances 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and answer approximately 2,200 calls annually. Warren County EMS is primarily responsible for an estimated 332 square miles. The remaining 110 square miles is covered by the Warren County Rescue Squad under the auspices of Halifax Emergency Medical Services System that provides paramedic coverage within that district. Due to Warren County not having a hospital within its border and being a large rural county. EMS emergency responses could take up to 20 minutes before an ambulance crew could be on location. So to reduce response time before an ambulance crew gets on the scene the First Responder Program was established. Warren County has a great First Responder Program supported by nine fire departments throughout the county. Many are trained to the EMT level and can stabilize a patient or perform life saving care until the ambulance crew arrives. All nine first responder VFD’s are equipped with semi-automatic defibrillators to provide early defibrillation for cardiac arrest victims. These First Responders are invaluable to EMS and the public considering some of the remote locations people live in Warren County. These First Responders live and most work in the county and are in most cases close to people needing emergency care. However; all First Responders are volunteers and will respond if they can. Warren County EMS, along with Warren County Rescue Squad and the Warren County VFD’s take great pride in providing professional emergency care.
EMS Training
Warren County's emergency medical care providers continually train to ensure that our patients receive the most up to date and efficient care possible. All field personnel receive a minimum of 36 hours of continuing education in a variety of topics. Much of our training is through the Vance-Granville Community College where personnel receive certifications such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Basic Trauma Life Support, and many others. Personnel also receive in-house training using the Internet, videotapes and portable training programs.
Response Area
By using two paramedic level ambulances, WCEMS responds to nearly 2,200 calls for help in its response area of Warren County. The Warren County Rescue Squad with the Halifax Paramedic responds to about 175 calls per year in their response area.
FAQ's

Q: Why are there so many different vehicles responding to an emergency?
A.  Warren County Paramedics respond in a blue and white ambulance. These are the vehicles you will be transported in to the hospital. Additional vehicles may be fire department first responder vehicles. 

Q: Will I receive a bill for Ambulance transport?
A: WCEMS does bill for services. The billing office will bill Medicare, Medicaid and third-party insurance companies.

Q: How much does it cost for an ambulance to take me to the hospital?
A: Our basic fee for Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support transports is $300 plus $8.50 per mile. The Board of County Commissioners approves our rates. We charge this fee in order to reduce the tax burden for operating an emergency medical service.

Q: Where can I pay my Warren County EMS medical bill?
A: EMS bills can be paid by mailing your payment to our billing/collection agent in Rocky Mount or you can make your payment in person at the EMS building during regular business hours.

Q: What happens when EMS arrives?
A: Each patient is given a history and physical exam. The paramedics then decide on a course of treatment. Liberal protocols allow our paramedics a degree of freedom not found in every emergency medical service. This is the reason our training is extensive and on going. The paramedics may consult with an emergency department physician or they may initiate treatments on their own. If transportation to the hospital is necessary, the patient will be transported to the nearest local hospital normally.

EMS Billing Charges
The Warren County Board of County Commissioners has approved the following EMS charges effective August 1, 2008:
Base Rate for Basic Life Support or Advanced Life Support $350
Mileage (loaded) $10.41 per mile
Mileage (Return) $5.00 per mile
Treatment request No Transport $75
Treatment/No Transport (ALS) $150
Treatment/Helicopter Transport $175
Specialty Transport $400
      (Inter-facility transport requiring specialized personnel)
Waiting time after first hour $40.00
Ambulance Standby $40.00 per hour
Warren County EMS will file insurance claims with Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies. Persons using the Emergency Medical Service are asked to provide any insurance information you have at the time of service, whenever possible. We DO accept assignment on many insurance policies. If you have any questions about billing or charges, please telephone our business office at (252) 257-5711 or (252) 977-0125 during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday).
Patient Care

Providing the best patient care possible is our mission at WCEMS. By giving our personnel the latest equipment along with quality training we are able to insure our mission is up held.

In EMS there are no specialties. All personnel must be trained to handle a variety of emergency situations. Countless hours are spent each year insuring that any given situation, even though it may be different, is cared for as professionally and compassionately as possible.

Currently our paramedic personnel are trained and able to perform the following skills: 

  • 12 Lead ECG interpretation
  • Blood Glucose Analysis
  • Cardiac Defibrillation
  • Needle Chest Decompression
  • Combi-Tube Airway
  • External Cardiac Pacing
  • Intraosseous Access
  • Intravenous Access
  • Nasogastric Tube Insertion
  • Nebulizer Inhalation Therapy
  • Needle Cricothyrotomy
  • Orotracheal Intubation
  • Synchronized Cardioversion

We have an extensive arsenal of medical capabilities to treat virtually any medical or traumatic condition. 25 different medications are carried on each ambulance. Additionally we utilize the latest technology such as Zoll monitoring systems and other devices for advanced airway management, fracture immobilization, cardiac stabilization, and a host of other procedures.