Savannah Perkins

By Savannah Perkins

 

 

The progress of the countywide ambulance system sparked conversation as the director of the Cache County Emergency Medical Services Authority explained changes during the council meeting on March 8.

 

Jay Downs, an area service director of the Cache County EMS Authority, manages the countywide comprehensive emergency services program. The program provides services to all residents of the county as a joint program of the Logan City Fire Department and the Cache County EMS Coordinator’s Office.

 

Downs explained that in 2004 political officials from Cache County and Logan City came together for an inter-local agreement in an effort to “create a seamless system, everything from a basic first response unit all the way to paramedic services,” he said.

 

“I think it is one of the best services we have in the county,” said Jon White, a county council member. “They have made a lot of progress and it is a great thing in the community.”

 

"For the first few years we were buying used ambulances from Brigham City and Rich County to keep us afloat,” Downs said. “Back in 2010 was the first year we were able to purchase our own ambulances.”

 

“This past year we have seen tremendous growth in the system,” Downs said.

 

Because of the newly implemented capital improvement program, he said money has been set aside every year to further prepare for expanding services. He said that some big changes this year was the purchase of two more ambulances as well as the North Logan ambulance joining forces, all of which have expanded Cache County EMS Authority’s reach in the community.

 

The next big project of the year, Downs explained, is the construction of a new ambulance station in Hyrum.

 

“This is one of the best success stories out of the whole 15 years I have been here,” said Kathy Robison, a county council member. “It has just been great to see how it has evolved.”

 

“The neatest thing is the way everyone works together,” Downs said, “it is all about patient care and they come together to provide the best care they can.”