New Buchanan County EMS facility is safer, more spacious

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Construction is nearly complete on the new Buchanan County EMS facility in Downtown St. Joseph. 

The facility, which broke ground last year at 701 S. Seventh Street, was built to meet the area’s growing demand for emergency medical services. 

"We envisioned having a facility that would accommodate three ambulances, should our volumes increase," said Wally Patrick, the executive director of Buchanan County EMS. 

Buchanan County EMS has reported a rise in emergency calls within the Downtown area. To meet this growing demand, the new facility will be staffed with three ambulances on-site at all times. 

"Since this is our busiest area, when a truck responds to a call from here, a unit from another post backfills," Patrick said. "That way, there are always one to two ambulances moving through this area 24 hours a day."

Local residents say the facility is long overdue, especially amid growing concerns about crime in the area. 

"I'm glad a new facility is coming Downtown," resident James Studli said. "It seems like there’s always shootings, drive-bys, homeless people dying -- just all kinds of things like that. It's sad for our city."

In response to safety concerns for both residents and first responders, EMS crews are taking extra precautions as the facility nears completion. 

"In the wake of that very unfortunate incident in Kansas City several weeks ago, the safety of our crews is paramount," Patrick said. "That's why the new facility includes rapid-closing doors and gates, storm rooms and even ballistic vests available for staff, if needed."

Nationally, the average EMS response time is around nine minutes. Buchanan County EMS currently averages about six minutes and hopes the new facility will further reduce that time. 

The Downtown EMS facility is expected to open before July 4.