Johnston County EMS is a Division of Johnston County Emergency Services and is directly responsible for the provision of EMS throughout Johnston County. In addition, Johnston County EMS provides oversight for the entire system which includes 911 medical dispatch and fire department medical responders. Additionally, we work in close conjunction with the 24 fire departments in our county.

The responsibility is met with 23 paramedic staffed ambulances around the clock, with two ambulances staffed during peak periods, plus four district supervisors, along with professional development and administrative staff.

Just a few of our accomplishments include -

• In 2021, we have achieved a 53.5% return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) rate and an 18.6% survival rate (discharged to home and functional) for our cardiac arrest patients, comparing very favorably with systems from around the United States. This was accomplished by implementing policies, protocols, and strategies that make the best use of available resources while bringing the needed care to the patient's side.

 

• Implementation of a functional trauma system where patients who have suffered serious traumatic injuries are transported directly to a trauma center, where the evidence and research has shown they have the best opportunity for survival.

 

• Implementation of a system of treatment and transportation for victims of heart attacks, ensuring that they are delivered to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) facilities capable of providing lifesaving interventions.

 

• Implementation of a system of treatment and transportation for stroke victims, ensuring that they are delivered to a stroke center to maximize survivability and minimize disability from this disease.

 

• Implementation of the Incident Command System (ICS) during Multiple Patient Incidents (MPIs). Using the ICS system allows a systematic approach to management of chaotic scenes involving multiple patients. We utilize a progressive alarm level dispatch system to send appropriate resources when needed.

 

• On June 2, 2015 we began providing Mobile Integrated Healthcare with our Community Paramedic Program. This innovative program, in partnership with Johnston Health, offers preventative care to those who need it most. Our program targets three types of patients:

• High EMS utilizers

 

• High Emergency Department utilizers

 

• Recently discharged patients from Johnston Health who are at high risk for readmission

The Johnston County EMS System has been recognized by the Regional Approach to Cardiovascular Emergencies Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation System (RACE CARS) project for our efforts in responding to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and improving the survivability rates for these calls. Our system has taken steps to provide our citizens with the utmost chances of survival. Recognizing that one of the keys to survival is resuscitation on the scene, our system responds with adequate resources to provide the needed care to the patient. To accomplish this, all 24 of our fire departments participate in response to cardiac arrest calls.

Our EMS System uses an electronic patient care reporting system (ePCR) provided by ESO Solutions. This program allows for faster charting and billing, plus allows the EMS System to track trends and treatment in patient care to help us ensure that we are providing the most up-to-date care available to our citizens.

As stated above, while we normally observe a policy of 'patient choice' for their hospital destination, we recognize that certain patient populations are better served by early access to specialty care centers. As such, patients who meet certain criteria for myocardial infraction/ heart attack (STEMI), CVA/ stroke, and traumatic injuries meeting the Centers for Disease Control trauma triage criteria are transported directly to tertiary care centers that are capable of providing the necessary interventions in a timely manner.

Johnston County EMS is constantly re-evaluating and re-assessing what we do and how we do it, to make sure that we are bringing the most effective care to our patients. It is summed up in our mission statement-

 

We achieve our mission with three core values -

• Pride
• Honor
• Integrity