By Nancy McCleary
The Sanford Herald
LEE COUNTY, N.C. 鈥� On March 3, the Lee County commissioners gave an update on the 2024 metrics posted by the FirstHealth-Lee County EMS services.
The agreement between the county and FirstHealth of the Carolinas Inc. was approved in 2021 and will expire in June 2026.
Matthew Prestwood, vice president of operations for Moore Regional Hospital, presented the information.
In 2024, FirstHealth and Lee County Emergency Services crews responded to a total of 10,254 calls, with 6,696 patients transported primarily to Central Carolina Hospital, Prestwood said.
The average response time 鈥� the time it takes from dispatch to arrival 鈥� was 6.92 minutes, which is under the goal of 8.59.
鈥淭hey have consistently met this critical metric,鈥� Prestwood said. 鈥淎ll the response requirements have been met each month through the contract period.鈥�
Lee County, compared to other FirstHealth medical facilities in the area, rates near the top of the group.
鈥淚f you look at Lee County and compare it to other counties that we serve, you鈥檒l see the other counties we serve, you鈥檒l see that it鈥檚 very close to the top here,鈥� Prestwood said.
Chatham County has 鈥渟lightly more transports, but Lee County鈥檚 transports grew by about 300.
鈥淥ne of the key metrics we also check is where are we taking the patients,鈥� Prestwood said. 鈥淢ost of the patients continue going to Central Carolina. That is certainly consistent throughout the contract and where those folks are getting care.鈥�
FirstHealth has increased vehicles to continue posting below-average response times.
That includes five Advanced Life Support ambulances, a quick response vehicle for the supervisor on duty and a full-time chief and director, Prestwood said.
Since entering into the agreement, EMS base locations have gone from one to three 鈥渟trategically located throughout Lee County,鈥� he said. The two added bases are Northview and Carolina Trace fire departments.
鈥淥ver the time of the contract, FirstHealth has made a significant investment in Lee County,鈥� Prestwood said.
Base pay rate for paramedics starts at $28 with the starting rate for EMTs now at $21 per hour.
鈥淲e鈥檝e invested over $312,168 in employee wages across the FirstHealth-Lee system,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he team has many successes.鈥�
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