- Comment: Resubmitted without any improvement, previous decline reason still applies. DoubleGrazing (talk) 05:30, 15 April 2023 (UTC)
- Comment: Fails WP:NORG, requires significant coverage in multiple independent secondary sources. The METROEMS website is a primary source. Dan arndt (talk) 01:14, 2 January 2023 (UTC)
- Comment: 6 of the sources are to their own website, which we have little interest in. Theroadislong (talk) 11:27, 1 January 2023 (UTC)
Little Rock Ambulance Authority (LRAA) | |
Motto: Here For Life | |
Established | 1984 |
---|---|
Headquarters | Little Rock, Arkansas |
Jurisdiction | Pulaski, Grant, and Portions of Lonoke Counties in Arkansas |
Total area (sq. miles) | 1500 aprox. |
Employees | 400 |
BLS or ALS | Tiered ALS and BLS |
Director | Greg Thompson, Paramedic |
Manager | Little Rock Ambulance Authority (LRAA) |
Medical director | Chuck Mason, MD |
Website | www.metroems.org |
Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) is an ambulance service headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas in the United States. MEMS operates as a nonprofit organization on the public utility model, which means it does not take tax revenue from the communities it serves, the only exception being Grant County, which voted on a tax for an ambulance service.[1][2] MEMS is also an accredited service of the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS).[3]
History
MEMS was founded after the Medic Vac employees in the Little Rock Metro walked out over corporate greed taking priority over the quality of life.[4][5] The Little Rock Ambulance Authority was initially formed as an oversight committee for a contracted ambulance service but found that creating an ambulance service would be more beneficial to the community.[6] David J Jones, former owner and general manager of KARK in Little Rock, is credited with founding and helping MEMS get it's start after his daughter was in an accident and it took 20 minutes for medics to arrive. The Training Department at MEMS' headquarters has been dedicated to him.[7][8][4]
On April 16,1999, MEMS was featured in TLC's show Paramedics episode, Body and Soul.[9][10]
In 2010 MEMS contracted with the State of Arkansas to setup and maintain the Arkansas Trauma Communications Center (ATCC).[11] ATCC connects hospitals and emergency services to efficiently transport patients to the nearest appropriate facility and coordinate inter-facility transfers within the state's Trauma System.[12]
Response types
Medical
MEMS is licensed to operate the metro area (Little Rock Metro) in a Tiered ALS/BLS and Advanced Response.[13] MEMS was the first in the state of Arkansas to put a tiered ambulance system in place.[14] Outlying areas such as Cabot and Grant county are licensed with ALS, or Paramedic Response[13] MEMS also utilizes EVO's (Emergency Vehicle Operators) that assist in BLS facility-to-facility transports alongside an EMT.[15]
911 dispatch
MEMS operates its own 911 Emergency Medical Dispatch Center in the headquarters building in Little Rock. MEMS dispatchers are protected and are able to continue operations if a natural disaster, such as a tornado, were to strike the capital city and the building itself. The dispatch center, IT, showers, and gym are located inside a tornado-safe structure that can withstand an EF5 tornado.[16] MEMS dispatch also acts as a secondary PSAP for the City of Little Rock.[17] Since October 2017, MEMS' dispatch center has been an Accredited Center of Excellence by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch[18]
Education
MEMS offers EMT and Paramedic courses through South Arkansas College, at its headquarters in Little Rock and has been apart of South Arkansas College since April 19, 2011.[19] MEMS offers EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic classes with paid tuition, a salary, and benefits while students earn college credit.[20][21]
Awards
In 2023, MEMS was a Challenge Award recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Quality Awards. According to the AIPE, who coordinates the program, the goal of the program is to encourage Arkansas organizations to engage in continuous quality improvement, which leads to performance excellence.[22]
Line of duty deaths
Paramedic Dean Douglas, of Jacksonville, died on November 28, 2021 while responding to a medical emergency during the Little Rock Marathon. Major Douglas was and active leader of the MEMS Special Operations Response Team.[23] Police reports indicate that Douglas sustained injuries from a moving ambulance that he was hanging onto, and was pulled underneath.[24]
External Links
- Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) Accredited Agencies
- International Academies of Emergency Dispatch
References
- ^ "Little Rock Resolution 9,249". LaserFiche. 1994.
- ^ "Little Rock Resolution 14488". web.littlerock.state.ar.us. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ "Accredited Agencies (By State, Province and Country)". Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ^ a b "History". www.metroems.org. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ^ McDaniel, Kevin; Kazas, Tom. "Resignations Put Medic-Vac in Quandary". Arkansas Democrat (N. 196 ed.). pp. 1 & 10A.
- ^ "Little Rock Ordinance No. 14,062". LaserFiche. 1981.
- ^ "David J. Jones receives MEMS Dedication". KARK. 2019-10-10. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ "David Jones - MEMS". www.metroems.org. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ Thompson, Greg (18 July 2023). "Carol Usery - KTHV About TLC Show". Vimeo. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ "Paramedics" Body and Soul (TV Episode) - IMDb, retrieved 2023-10-19
- ^ "New system links trauma cases, care". Arkansas Online. 2010-10-24. Archived from the original on 2010-10-24. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "System to route victims to aid". Arkansas Online. 2010-10-25. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ a b "Arkansas Department of Health". www.healthy.arkansas.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ^ "LR greenlights change for MEMS". Arkansas Online. 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ "LRAA Board Minutes - April 27, 2021". LaserFiche. 2021. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ^ Dover, Elicia (2016-05-24). "MEMS new building puts dispatchers out of harm's way". KATV. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ "Arkansas Statewide PSAP Consolidation Plan Report" (PDF). Arkansas 911 Board. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "International Academies of Emergency Dispatch". www.emergencydispatch.org. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ^ "Arkansas Community College Board Minutes April 19 2011". view.officeapps.live.com. 19 April 2011. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ "MEMS looking to fill its 45th class of emergency medical technicians". Arkansas Online. 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ "South Arkansas College Course Catalog and Student Handbook" (PDF). South Arkansas College. 18 October 2023. p. 143. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Eight Arkansas organizations honored with Governor's Quality Awards". Magnolia Banner News. 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ "Ark. EMS provider dies from injuries suffered while working at Little Rock Marathon". EMS1. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ^ "Police report: Paramedic was holding on to moving MEMS vehicle when fatal accident happened". Arkansas Online. 2021-12-02. Retrieved 2022-12-31.