EMS squad to change hands

March 03--PRINCETON -- Ambulances here will soon be staffed by Johnston County emergency medical crews -- with better resources and benefits for first responders, officials say.

Princeton EMS, a private group that serves eastern Johnston under a contract with the county, announced recently it will merge with the Johnston County EMS system on July 1. Princeton EMS officials said the cost of providing emergency medical care have gotten too high.

Eugene Hartley has been the Princeton agency's chief since 2010, but he's paid for only 10 hours a week. He says Princeton EMS needs two full-time administrative staffers to keep up with the workload. That's two positions the squad can't afford, he said.

"We think it's better right now to go ahead and let the county run it," said Hartley, who will step down to focus on teaching and his ministry. "They can offer better benefits for our employees and pay raises."

The agency's eight full-timers and 20 part-timers will be offered jobs with the county EMS, provided they pass the application process and background check. With help from other county EMS personnel, they'll staff the Princeton station around the clock, with an EMT and paramedic ready to roll anytime.

"The people in the Princeton community will never know the difference," said Josh Holloman, division chief for Johnston County EMS. "They will continue to receive prompt and passionate service."

Princeton EMS spends about $442,500 a year, Hartley said, with about $218,000 coming from its contract with the county. Johnston EMS officials expect they can staff the Princeton station for about $600,000 a year -- the increase is because of the county's employee-benefit package, Holloman said.

Johnston County EMS currently provides service from stations in Benson, Micro, Kenly and the Overshot and Thanksgiving communities. Benson and North Johnston EMS merged with the county in 2008. Elsewhere in Johnston, the county EMS system has service contracts with Smithfield, Four Oaks, Selma, 50/210 and Clayton EMS agencies.

Holloman said that while other mergers are possible, it's up to individual agencies to initiate that process. "We enjoy our relationship with the existing contract agencies," he said.

Merging does make sense for some smaller agencies like Princeton, Holloman said. "Going forward, it's going to continue to be difficult for an agency their size as the EMS system gets bigger," he said. "As big of a business as it is, the long-term best option is for the county to run it.

"Statewide and even nationally, the trend is going toward a more consolidated service."

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