Butler County seeks to adapt to changing EMS climate

  Butler County is an anomaly in the area in that it does not contain a hospital with a paramedic service.
  On a given emergency call in a bigger city, response is a matter of when the ambulance service can assemble a crew. In Butler County it's a matter of if, rather than when, a crew can be assembled.
  "Our EMS volunteers do a fantastic job, but due to changes in the amount of training required, it has been difficult for the services to maintain the amount of members they need," Butler County Sheriff Jason Johnson said. "That's most apparent between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., when a majority of members of services are engaged in their business day."
  Butler County officials are researching possible short- and long-term solutions to volunteer shortages on local ambulance crews. Some suggestions have been a "fly car service," private paramedic services or contracting with paramedic services from hospitals in bordering counties.
  The Butler County Board of Supervisors ... plans to continue the discussion at next week's meeting.
  Read more about local paramedic services and issues in discussion in the Sept. 24 Butler County Tribune-Journal and Clarksville Star.