Several familiar faces are now full-time on the city's emergency services crew. The New Castle Board of Works gave New Castle-Henry County Emergency Medical Services Chief Ron Burns approval earlier this month to open four positions for previously part-time employees.
Less than a week later, Burns had the paperwork filed to bring on Scott Teague, Andrew Goodpastor and Chris Millis as full-time basic emergency medical technicians (EMTs) for the city. Burns hired Scott Cole as a full-time advanced EMT. In Indiana, the advanced certification allows Cole to begin IVs on patients.
The EMTs work what is known as a 'Kelly system,' meaning they work three 24-hour shifts each week, followed by four days off. This is the same scheduling system the New Castle Fire Department uses, Burns said.
Goodpastor began working part-time for the city EMS in March. Friday afternoon, Goodpastor was teamed up with Justin Harrison, the newest full-time paramedic on staff. Harrison has worked for the service on an "as needed" basis since June 2009 and accepted a full-time position at the beginning of this year.
"It's the best job I've ever had," Goodpastor said. "The experience is good. The work's good, the people are good. It's the best management I've ever worked for, that's for sure."
Since the beginning of the year, New Castle-Henry County EMS has been providing advanced life support transportation from Henry County Hospital to other hospitals. When compared to this time in 2014, Harrison estimates that the city service has received between 500 and 1,000 more calls. That increase in service is one of the factors motivating the shift to more full-time employees.
"Eventually, I want to get to eight (full-time EMTs) total," Burns said.
Burns plans to offer any new full-time positions to EMTs who already work part-time for the city-county emergency service. Current employees already understand the system and the protocols, Burns explained.
Burns said New Castle-Henry County EMS now has 13 full-time paramedics and four full-time EMTs, with 11 additional EMTs and one additional paramedic working part-time.
The New Castle-Henry County EMS staff are currently planning an event to celebrate 70 years of serving the community. The date will be announced at a later time.
