WEMS passes state inspection
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The Red River Sun/Bev Odom
Ashley Robertson of Lubbock trains Wellington Emergency Medical Services staff on the new Stryker LIFEPAK CR2 defibrillators at the WEMS barn on Nov. 3. From left, Noah Downing, Preston Barlow, Sierra Hartman, Farris Nation, Robertson, Pat Needham, Valerie Vaughn-Mathews and Tammy Riley.
By Bev Odom/The Red River Sun—
WELLINGTON — Less than three months after applying for grants to fund three new defibrillators, Wellington Emergency Management Services is almost ready to utilize the new equipment. Replacing the outdated, obsolete LIFEPAKS that can no longer be serviced will help WEMS continue to have the best possible outcome for patients according to WEMS Administrator Farris Nation.
Even before the upgrade to the new equipment, WEMS passed the recent Texas Department of State Health Services bi-annual inspection with no deficiencies.
“The review found your organization to be in compliance with the Health and Safety Code as described in the inspection report for each of your three ambulances,” said Susan Germany, DSHS inspector. “No deficiency is noted within the scope of this visit.”
Funded mostly by grants at a cost of $118,230 for all three, Nation said the new equipment has capabilities that he didn’t even know would come with this particular defibrillator.
“The new equipment even measures carbon monoxide,” he stated. “One of the most important pieces of equipment on our trucks, a defibrillator also takes blood pressure, pulse, oxygen levels, carbon dioxide levels, monitors heart rhythms and of course, defibrillates the heart to try to get it back in the proper rhythm.”
In August, WEMS applied for a $50,000 USDA Rural Grant which they received. In addition, a local foundation granted another $50,000 to assist with the replacement cost of three defibrillators.
“We appreciate the fact that the county and hospital district subsidize WEMS with $25,000 each yearly,” Nation said.
“Collingsworth General Hospital donates most of the medical supplies we use, and the city this past year purchased $7,000 worth of equipment. The balance of $18,230 for the new defibrillators was paid out of these funds.”
Equipment such as the updated LIFEPACK for each of the three trucks is necessary due to the volume of runs made monthly by WEMS.
“In August, we ended up with 56 runs, then 36 for September and 28 for October – 120 total,” he said. “That’s more than one per day. As busy as we’ve been lately, we are grateful for a new defibrillator for each of our three ambulances. For us here in our small community, that’s remarkable volume.”
For more information, contact Nation at 806-205-1891.
