Currently, Cleveland County EMS provides 911 ambulance services in cooperation with three nonprofit agencies – Kings Mountain Rescue, Shelby Rescue, and Upper Cleveland Rescue. The County has granted these nonprofits franchises to operate within the County.
Last year, as part of their budget work session, the Cleveland County Commissioners requested a third-party public safety strategic plan. The strategic plan would include core observations and recommendations on Emergency Management, 911 Emergency Communications, Emergency Medical Services, and law enforcement, as well as an update to the County’s volunteer fire plan.
During this year’s February 24-25 work session, the county commissioners were presented with recommendations with respect to emergency medical services. The county’s third-party consultant and medical director both recommended moving to a centrally administered EMS. Both noted that this would have a positive impact on patient care, which is the number one priority of EMS services.
Based on these recommendations, the Board of Commissioners decided that centrally
administering the County’s EMS providers would be the most effective and efficient way to serve our citizens while meeting the increasing demand for services. This approach will
standardize training, quality assurance, and technology across the county. These service
enhancements, as well as closest unit dispatch, will lead to reductions in response time and a higher level of patient care.
This transition will take place on July 1, 2022. No areas of the county will lose EMS coverage, and ambulance services will not be interrupted during this transition.
Cleveland County will solicit job applications from current rescue squad members and expects to hire any applicants who meet the County’s minimum qualifications for employment.