Government
BY ELISABETH JIMENEZ
The emergency medical service that operates in north Hays County is gearing up to start its own services outside of San Marcos Hays County EMS. North Hays EMS, which includes Dripping Springs, Driftwood, Henley and surrounding areas, has been part of SMHCEMS since 2004. The overview Services by the North Hays EMS Emergency Service District No. 1 will o cially start April 7. North Hays EMS Chief Bob Luddy said he doesn’t anticipate the transition will have an impact on services to residents in the area. “None of the trucks are going to be taken out of service,” Luddy said. “Everybody is going to just continue running calls up here. Some of them will just be wearing a di erent uniform than what they were before.” However, some San Marcos Hays County EMS employees have resigned early to go to North Hays EMS, SMHCEMS Chief Jill Rosales said. Because North Hays services will go live April 7, there will be a week where current SMHCEMS personnel will have to ll in the missing shifts. Both Luddy and Rosales said they are working on a plan to ensure there are no gaps in services, though the details of the plan are currently being ironed out. Dripping Springs area residents get service from new North Hays EMS
North Hays County ESD No. 1
“While we still disagree with the decision to pursue this risky venture, for the health and safety of the citizens they serve, we wish them the best of luck in all their future endeavors,” ZACK PHILLIPS, HAYS COUNTY EMS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
290
BELTERRA DR.
N
Rosales said about 30 SMHCEMS employees total are set to leave the company and start work with North Hays, as of press time. Still, she said emergency services in the remaining SMHCEMS areas should continue as normal. “We’re going to go forward just like we would still be going forward if they were here,” she said. Members of the Hays County EMS Association, the labor union that represents the SMHCEMS eld sta , said they are still concerned with the impact to emergency services in the area. How we got here Luddy said the decision to split from SMHCEMS came from factors including leadership and sta ng issues. Management from former SMHCEMS Chief David Smith, “led us to have concerns about the leadership and stability of the organization,” Luddy said. Over 90% of SMHCEMS sta , including eld and administrative sta , signed a vote of no-con dence against Smith in late 2024, citing alleged issues such as lack of communication and handling of disciplinary proceedings. He later resigned.
Smith now serves as the district administrator for Emergency Service District No. 9, which operates in Kyle and unincorporated San Marcos. ESD No. 9 holds a seat on the SMHCEMS board, currently held by board president Diane Hervol. Luddy said SMHCEMS had failed to adequately sta two of their ambulances in Fiscal Year 2023- 2024 and current FY 2024-25. From Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024, there were 222 hours when the ambulances were not sta ed, he said. From the current scal year starting on Oct. 1, 2024, there have been 216 unsta ed hours. Rosales said that because North Hays operates on 12-hour shifts, SMHCEMS would not be able to keep an employee from a previous shift to cover that unit if someone were to call out of work. “When we cannot hold somebody to work that, then the unit is not sta ed,” she said. “We cannot force employees to come to work when they are not scheduled to work.” What’s next North Hays EMS sta will continue to monitor response metrics to track the new service.
Hearing her laugh is everything
Find the perfect fit with hearing aids customized to your needs & lifestyle.
ARC Audiology near you at ARC South 1st Specialty & Pediatrics For all ages, newborns to adults
ARChearing.com
13
SOUTHWEST AUSTIN DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook