Compiled by SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
After being fined for slow response times last year, Decatur Morgan Hospital’s ambulance service is back on track—meeting and exceeding city standards for emergency calls in the last two quarters.
According to Emergency Medical Services Director Tyler Stinson, renewed efforts to recruit and retain EMS staff played a pivotal role in the turnaround. “We are in a much better place than we were six months ago,” Stinson said.
Per city policy, ambulance crews must respond to emergency calls within 13 minutes for areas up to 1.5 miles beyond city limits and within nine minutes for calls made inside city boundaries. In the fourth quarter of last year, 91% of calls met the 13-minute mark. That number rose to 95% in the first quarter of 2025. Within city limits, response rates improved from 91% to 92% over the same period.
The improvements come after the service was fined at least $10,000 in 2024 for failing to meet required response times. Like many EMS agencies nationwide, Decatur Morgan struggled with staffing shortages—a problem Stinson called a “national issue.”
But following those penalties, the hospital ramped up recruiting and filled several open positions, resulting in quicker, more efficient service.
“Our employees are doing a great job posting—staging across the coverage area—and putting themselves in the right position to serve the citizens of Decatur,” Stinson said. He credited both front-line crews and supervisors for the progress, saying leadership has helped get units back in service faster.
“They have all stepped up to the challenges we’ve faced and are doing an excellent job,” Stinson said. “If it wasn’t for their dedication and professionalism, we wouldn’t be providing services as efficiently as we do.”