Starke County EMS Director Keith Emigh hopes hiring two full-time paramedics will alleviate some of the staffing concerns for the county ambulance service. The council on Monday approved his request to hire two people for full-time positions.
Most of the staff is part-time, and they pick up hours from various ambulance services throughout the area. They can also spread their minimum number of hours at Starke County over more than one month. That creates staffing headaches when it comes to providing 24-hour coverage at all three bases.
In 2014 Starke County EMS has eight full-time slots for EMT’s. They now have six since both Emigh and Travis Clary have been promoted within the service, and their positions were not filled.
Emigh says he has candidates in mind to hire, and he hopes to do so by the end of the month. The full-time positions will include benefits, which will be paid for from the commissioners budget for the remainder of the year.
The Starke County Council approved his request unanimously.
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