Cole County EMS hires three paramedics amid staffing challenges

Cole County EMS Director Jerry Johnston said Tuesday that three new paramedics are set to start work in early July, which will lower the number of open positions to four.

Johnston says that many people have had to pick up extra shifts to keep ambulances fully staffed.

“We continue to provide a very high level of service in the midst of difficult times, and I believe those times are behind us,” Johnston said.

He said that EMT’s are also fully staffed at the department.

This comes after three employees were fired in April with no explanation. Sam Bushman, the presiding Cole County commissioner, said the firings were part of a restructuring of the department, but did not elaborate.

“We’re just trying to make it the best service we can,” he said. “This was just part of the reorganization.”

Two former paramedics says that their morale at the department is at an “all-time low.”