Draft:Mecklenburg EMS Agency
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| Mecklenburg EMS Agency | |
|---|---|
 Agency Patch | |
 Agency Logo | |
| Motto | To save a life, hold a hand and be prepared to respond in our community when and where our patients need us. |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1978 |
| Employees | 530 (2023) |
| Annual budget | $80,708,158 (2023) |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | United States of America |
 | |
| Map of Mecklenburg EMS Agency's jurisdiction | |
| Size | 546.09 sq mi |
| Population | 1,163,701 (2023 Estimate) |
| Governing body | Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Charlotte, North Carolina, USA |
| Agency executives |
|
| Website | |
| https://www.medic911.com/ | |
| [1] | |
Mecklenburg EMS Agency (better known as Medic) is an American private, not for profit emergency medical services (EMS) company. It was established in 1978 and serves as the municipal third-service EMS for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, including the City of Charlotte. Initially facing significant challenges in infrastructure and response times, Medic underwent restructuring in 1996, leading to improvements in service delivery. Operated independently and overseen by a Board of Commissioners, the agency collaborates with local fire departments and manages the Central Medical Emergency Dispatch (CMED) center. Handling over 150,000 calls for service a year, Medic is within the top 1% of EMS agencies in the United States for cardiac arrest outcomes, achieving a 78% return of spontaneous circulation rate (ROSC), competing with regions such as King County, Washington.[2]
History
[edit]Mecklenburg EMS Agency (Medic) was established in 1978 as a municipal third-service EMS system, supported by the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners.[3] Initially, the system faced challenges related to infrastructure and service delivery, which came to a head in the mid-1990s.[4] At that time, newspaper headlines highlighted long response times, firefighters expressed frustration with ambulance delays, and residents—particularly in outlying areas—reported poor service[4]. The EMS system suffered from aging infrastructure, underfunding, and political battles, with the Charlotte Fire Department and two hospital systems vying for control[4].
The crisis gained national attention when JEMS published "Battlefield Charlotte," covering the deteriorating state of EMS in the county[4]. In response, county officials brought in Fitch & Associates, an EMS consulting firm, to overhaul the system[4]. The firm implemented a long-term plan for success, eventually recruiting Joe Penner as the new executive director, a position he held for nearly 20 years, until retiring in 2021[4].[5]
In 1996, the system was further restructured when Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare System) and Novant Health (formerly Presbyterian Healthcare) proposed managing it as a joint operation[3]. The Mecklenburg EMS Agency was officially established on October 8, 1996[3]. Since then, the agency has seen multiple improvements in service delivery, consistently reaching life-threatening emergencies in under 9 minutes 59 seconds for at least 90% of calls[3].
Today, Medic is independently operated by the Mecklenburg EMS Agency and overseen by a Board of Commissioners, which includes members from Atrium Health, Novant Health, and Mecklenburg County.[6] The Medical Control Board sets all emergency medical response protocols. Additionally, Medic collaborates with 14 fire departments to provide EMS coverage throughout the county and manages a communication center that handles all 9-1-1 fire and medical calls[6].[7]
In January 2018, Medic moved into a 180,000-square-foot central operations facility that houses all components of the agency, including Administration, Clinical Affairs, Operations, Communications, and fleet services.[8] With an annual call volume exceeding 150,000 responses—about 15% of which are life-threatening—Medic remains the largest EMS system in North Carolina[8].
Services provided
[edit]Field operations
[edit]Medic's Field Operations team is made up of over 300 EMTs and Paramedics, providing front-line emergency medical care throughout Mecklenburg County.[9] The team includes a diverse range of roles, including EMTs, Paramedics, Field Training Officers, Preceptors, Assistant Operations Supervisors, Operations Supervisors, Assistant Operations Managers, Managers, and a Deputy Director of Operations.
In 2023, Medic's Field Operations team responded to 154,926 calls, transporting 106,588 patients[6]. Of these transports, 17% were classified as life-threatening or potentially life-threatening, requiring immediate and advanced medical intervention[6].
Central Medical Emergency Dispatch (CMED)
[edit]Medic's Central Medical Emergency Dispatch center, or CMED, is the only secondary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for medical calls in North Carolina.[10] Unlike most 911 systems where police dispatch an ambulance, 911 calls in Mecklenburg County are transferred directly to CMED[7]. The dispatch center communicates with callers, performs medical triage, dispatches the appropriate emergency resources, and provides life-saving instructions in real time.
CMED is accredited as a Center of Excellence (ACE) by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, a recognition held by only 183 centers worldwide.[11] In addition to medical calls, CMED also handles fire-related emergency calls for areas outside the City of Charlotte. In 2023, CMED dispatched 184,825 medical and fire-related calls, with 95% of calls answered in under 10 seconds[6].
Logistics
[edit]Medic's Logistics Department operates around the clock to ensure that ambulances are stocked with the necessary supplies and equipment for patient care. This 24/7 department is responsible for the recovery and production of fully stocked ambulances to meet the Agency's deployment schedule, requiring an average of 96 fully stocked vehicles each day[9].
Each year, nearly $2,000,000 worth of medications, equipment, and supplies pass through Medic's on-site warehouse[6]. The logistics team utilizes these resources to build resupply kits that ensure each ambulance is adequately stocked at the end of a given shift. The work performed by this department is essential for Medic's frontline clinicians, who would otherwise need to restock their ambulances on their own after each shift.
Special Operations
[edit]
Special Operations Technicians are responsible for deploying the Agency's Mass Casualty Unit and specialized buses to incidents involving multiple patients.[12] They also maintain a fleet of Utility Vehicles that are utilized during special events to ensure adequate medical coverage. They also work alongside Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Teams, Bomb Squads, and Field Force Teams during incidents requiring enhanced medical response capabilities.
Additionally, an Airport EMS Team provides on-site emergency medical care at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport[12]. This team operates within the terminal and onboard aircraft, utilizing custom-designed carts to facilitate the rapid transport of patients to awaiting ambulances when necessary.
Information Technology (IT)
[edit]The Information Technology team at the Mecklenburg EMS Agency (Medic) is tasked with managing the systems that support the Agency's 911 Emergency Medical Dispatch center and its administrative operations[9]. The IT team is responsible for designing and configuring the network infrastructure, managing replacement cycles, and troubleshooting technical issues. They collaborate with other emergency response agencies to address the needs of the public safety network.
Additionally, the IT team maintains a customized electronic patient care reporting solution, ensuring that systems operate continuously throughout the year.
Performance Improvement
[edit]The Performance Improvement department at the Mecklenburg EMS Agency (Medic) comprises teams responsible for clinical and quality improvement, continuing education, and scheduling the deployment of the Agency's resources. This department is dedicated to supporting the Agency's personnel and fostering ongoing enhancement in service delivery.
Key teams
- Clinical Improvement Team: Focused on clinical excellence, this team identifies and investigates opportunities to improve patient outcomes through performance monitoring and quality assurance practices.[9]
- Forecasting and Scheduling Team: This team monitors staffing trends to ensure that EMTs and Paramedics are available to respond to 911 calls.
- Medical Services Team: Committed to supporting both patients and staff, this team provides interactive simulations, regular training, and assistance with hiring and onboarding processes to enhance clinical outcomes.
- Quality Improvement Department: This team analyzes data from various sources to monitor performance and identify opportunities for improvement. They support the Agency's research and improvement agendas through data aggregation and analysis, establishing metrics for accountability.
Fleet and facilities
[edit]Medic's Fleet Department includes a team of in-house mechanics tasked with maintaining and repairing the Agency's assets, including ambulances and emergency response vehicles. This team ensures that all vehicles are operational and ready for service.
The Facilities team oversees the maintenance and functionality of Medic's headquarters in Charlotte, NC, as well as its seven physical posts throughout Mecklenburg County. This includes ongoing maintenance, necessary repairs, and management of building improvement projects throughout the year.
Human resources
[edit]The Human Resources (HR) department at Mecklenburg EMS Agency (Medic) is responsible for a range of functions, including recruitment, onboarding, benefit administration, and compensation strategies. The HR team manages the day-to-day hiring processes, which include candidate assessments for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics, as well as an orientation academy for new hires. In addition to recruitment, the HR team supports all employees with benefits and compensation inquiries and hosts an annual Health Fair. The Risk & Safety team within HR is dedicated to ensuring best practices for clinical staff and assisting employees with safety-related issues.
Public relations
[edit]The Public Relations (PR) Department at the Mecklenburg EMS Agency (Medic) is responsible for managing all internal and external communication efforts. Internally, the PR team organizes and distributes critical communications to employees. Externally, the PR department manages media relations and handles crisis communications.
Finance and billing
[edit]The Finance and Billing Departments at Mecklenburg EMS Agency (Medic) are responsible for managing the agency's budget, which is partially funded by county subsidies, and billing for services provided.[13]
Vehicles
[edit]
Mecklenburg EMS (Medic) operates a diverse fleet of emergency vehicles designed to provide efficient and effective emergency medical services throughout the region. The fleet is essential for ensuring rapid response times and high-quality patient care.
The agency's fleet includes[6][8]:
- Ambulances: 72 Dodge 5500 SLT 4X4s advanced life support ambulances.
- Quick Response Vehicles (QRVs): 24 Chevrolet Tahoe's, Chevrolet 2500HD's and Dodge Durango's.
- Mass Casualty Buses: 2 Freightliner/Thomas transport bus and 1 unknown model MCI unit.
- All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs): 3 Kubota RTV900 4x4s.
Incidents
[edit]2003 -
- Paramedic Tim Hayes was on the scene of a vehicle accident when a tractor-trailer struck him and the ambulance, pinning him against a guardrail. He lost both of his legs as a result of the accident.[14]
2019 -
- In April 2019, a man stole an occupied ambulance, crashing it into 3 parked cars. No one was injured and he was charged with felony larceny of a motor vehicle.[15]
2023 - present
[edit]- In May of 2023, a vehicle struck a parked Medic ambulance, resulting in 3 employees being transported to the hospital. One was transported with life-threatening injuries, one with serious injuries and one uninjured. The person who struck the ambulance was also transported with life-threatening injuries and charged with felony failure to move over and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.[16]
- In May of 2023, Paramedic Mark Hayes died after suffering a medical emergency while on-duty.[17]
References
[edit]- ^ U.S. Census Bureau. "QuickFacts: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina." Accessed September 29, 2024. [1]
- ^ "Annual Report 2022" (PDF). Mecklenburg EMS Agency. 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Emergency Medical Services (EMS)". Atrium Health. 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Fitch, Jay (2018). "The Evolution of MEDIC, Charlotte, N.C.'s High-Performing EMS Agency". Journal of Emergency Medical Services – via JEMS.
- ^ "John Peterson named Medic's Executive Director effective November 1, 2021". Mecklenburg EMS Agency. 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g "MECKLENBURG EMS AGENCY FY '23 ANNUAL REPORT" (PDF). Mecklenburg EMS Agency. 2023.
- ^ a b "911 Communications". City of Charlotte. 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c Nelson, Grace (2020). "Safer Spaces, Smarter Design". EMS World.
- ^ a b c d "Our Departments". Mecklenburg EMS Agency. 2024.
- ^ "Public Safety Answering Points". N.C. Department of Information Technology. 2024.
- ^ "AGENCIES EARNING ACE ACCREDITATION AND RE-ACCREDITATION IN 2024". International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. 2024.
- ^ a b Staley, Kevin (2015). "North Carolina Agencies Partner to Prepare for a Mass Casualty Incident at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport". Journal of Emergency Medical Services – via JEMS.
- ^ Diorio, Dena (2023). "Adopted Budget 2025". Mecklenburg County.
- ^ Terry, Tina (2013). "Medic uses nearly fatal crash to raise awareness of driving dangers". WSOC-TV. Cox Media.
- ^ "Man who crashed stolen ambulance into parked cars now behind bars". WSOC-TV. Cox Media. 2019.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Multiple hurt after University area crash involving Medic ambulance, officials say". Queen City News. Nexstar Media. 2023.
- ^ Hare, Andres (2023). "Charlotte paramedic dies while on duty, Medic confirms". WCNC Charlotte. Tegna.