With 32 people on staff, Marion County EMS Director Kimberly Collins names them as some of the best in the state.
“The ones that are here are the ones that live here and are that dedicated they are going to stay here regardless,” Collins said.
Taking about 5600 calls a year Collins said Marion County is one of the lowest paying counties for EMS services.
“My guys can go to Dillon County and make more per hour so to keep people here is difficult. We don’t generate enough revenue to pay them more,” Collins said.
Collins explained that EMS workers are hard to come by because they require two to two and a half years of education just like Registered Nurses but EMS workers make less.
“So the people that are in it that love the medical aspect of it that like the patient care are looking more at nursing as opposed to being a paramedic,” Collins said.
One of the benefits of being an EMS full time employee is being put through school. Collins said when people come to Marion County after finishing basic school then the county will pay their tuition for intermediate and paramedic school.
In the future Marion County may see a pioneer group. Marion County is currently working on plans to start a junior EMS program. Through this program high school students would be able to ride along on calls.
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