EMS/History - Welcome to Putnam County Tennessee Official Government Website

1980
Putnam County government assumes direct operation of Putnam County Emergency Medical Services at 12 o’clock a.m. on July 1st with 5 ambulances and 12 employees including a secretary and director Eddie Burgess.
At first the service is housed in the “Home Economics” building at the fairgrounds, then in November moves into the old Norwalk Furniture building on N. Washington Ave.
One ambulance is staffed 24-hours per day and an additional unit is staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m Monday–Friday with personnel on-call as needed.
One dispatcher handles all communications for EMS, Rescue, and County Fire.

1981
First “Standing Orders” approved for Paramedics. These are very limited in scope and most advanced treatments still require contacting an emergency room physician prior to administration of treatment.
“ Thumpers” used to deliver mechanical CPR for first time.

1983
A second ambulance is now staffed 24-hours per day, seven days per week. There are now 22 full-time employees
Basic 911 telephone service available in Putnam Co.
The State of Tennessee gives Putnam County EMS an “A” rating, the first year such a designation is available. That rating has been maintained since that time.
Randy Porter replaces Eddie Burgess as director of Putnam EMS
First female Paramedic, Betsy Spurlock, begins work at PCEMS

1984
All on-duty ambulances are staffed by at least one paramedic.
More extensive standing orders and treatment protocols are used.

1985
Putnam EMS, along with the Putnam Fire Dept. and Rescue Squad move into the new emergency services center on Carlen Drive in east Cookeville.

1990
Director, Randy Porter appointed to State of Tennessee EMS Regulatory Board. Serves eight years.

1991
Enhanced 911 services begin in Putnam Co. The dispatch center at Putnam EMS is selected to operate the new system – a second dispatcher is added to handle the additional call volume.
EMS Sub-Stations are opened in both Monterey and Baxter. One ambulance is staffed in each town 24-hrs per day. There are now 38 full-time employees.

1993
Arthur Taylor, EMT-IV retires from PCEMS after 15 years of service.

1994
Putnam EMS first pre-hospital service in Tennessee to perform 12-lead EKG’s in the field and transmit them to hospital ER’s.
Tennessee’s first Pertrach surgical airway performed by a Putnam EMS Paramedic.
Major Standing Order revision

1995
Russ Cyphers, EMT retires from Putnam County EMS. Russ served Putnam County EMS for 15 years full time. Russ also worked for various agencies that provided ambulance service to this county for 20 years prior to this. Russ served many capacities in the community. Russ served as Chief of Putnam County Rescue for 40 years. He was also a county commissioner.

1997
A second ambulance is now staffed at night at the Main Ambulance Station bringing the number of full-time employees to 42.
Major Standing Order revision
Dr. Alex Case joins PCEMS as the second volunteer Medical Director. Dr. Case is a boarded Cardiologist.
A Communications/911 Supervisor is appointed to handle 911 addressing in the County and oversee the day-to-day operations of dispatch.

Call Volume fiscal year 7,289

1998
Ambulance fleet increased to eight vehicles.
Director Randy Porter appointed to State of Tennessee 911 Regulatory Board

Call Volume fiscal year 6,906

1999
C-Com, the 911-dispatch center at Putnam EMS now not only answers all 911 calls in Putnam County, but also dispatches all EMS, Fire and Rescue calls for all departments in the city and county.

Call Volume fiscal year 7,230

2000
Putnam County Emergency Medical Services celebrates 20 years of serving the citizens of Putnam County as a full-fledged county department.
Now staffed by 43 full-time and several part-time employees using eight ambulance vehicles.
Putnam County EMS Medical Director, Dr. Sullivan K. Smith becomes the State of Tennessee EMS Medical Director and remains in that position for two years.

Call Volume fiscal year 7,720

2001
Putnam County EMS added and additional Basic Life Support Ambulance from 9-5, fives days per week. This brings the total number of ambulance on duty to five during the day and four at night.
Russ Cyphers retires after 26 years service in EMS.
Dr. Brian Dockery becomes the service’s third volunteer Medical Director. Dr. Dockery is an internist that specializes in decreasing Cardiac Risk Factors and post-event Cardiac rehabilitation.

Call volume fiscal year 8,603

2002
Putnam County EMS adds an Assistant Director to help oversee day-to-day EMS operations.
Putnam County EMS now has a total of three volunteer physician/Medical Directors. The physicians can respond with the ambulances to delivery more advanced care in the pre-hospital field when needed.
Second County in Tennessee to place First Access for Shock and Trauma IV access devices on ambulances.
Zoll monitors phased into PCEMS. All eight trucks now have the same type monitor.
PCEMS appoints the first Field Training Officers. These are experienced Paramedics who volunteer for extra duty. The FTO’s work with new employees to bridge the gap between the classroom and “street knowledge”.

Call Volume fiscal year 8,405

2003
Training Officers begin classroom orientation day to assist new employees
Training Officers begin developing and presenting classes for existing employees.
PCEMS received a grant for an enclosed trailer. The trailer will be used for many functions including disaster operations.
Cookeville/Putnam County P.A.D. (Public Access Defibrillation) Program begins a program to teach American Heart Association, Adult Heartsaver AED program to every Sophmore in Putnam County. The majority of teachers in the Putnam County School System have also been trained to the same standard.
Automatic blood pressure monitoring has been added to all PCEMS ambulances.

Call volume fiscal year

2004
Putnam County EMS adds 2nd day truck. Both day trucks are ALS. 6 ALS trucks are staffed during the day and 4 at night.
Electronic End Tidal Carbon Dioxiode monitors are add to all trucks. This allow quick and sure confirmation of advanced airway placement.

Call volume fiscal year

2005
Cookeville/Putnam County P.A.D. (Public Access Defibrillation) Program, a coalition of Putnam County EMS and Cookeville Fire, receives the Heart Safe Community Award, small cities category. This is an award that recognizes advances in pre-hospital cardiac arrest survival and Public Access Defibrillation Program. This award is presented by the International Associations of Fire Chief's and Medtronics.
Day shift Supervisors were taken off the ambulance. They now my be more responsive to assisting with day to day EMS operational matters, respond to MCI events with having a patient care obligation.
An old ambulance was converted for full time use with the Child Passenger Safety Seat Program.
After reviewing the three available commercial devices for adult intraosseous infusion and deploying each device in the field, the EZ IO was picked as the official device of PCEMS

Call volume fiscal year ending June 2005 10,459

2006
An old ambulance was converted for full time use by the Cookeville/Putnam Public Access Defibrillation Program. This gives us a convient way to transport equipment and personnel to training sites. It is also a good way to "get the word out about the program and a good visual aid.
PCEMS has purchased the Zoll Autopulse. Four devices were purchased this year. We hope to purchase enough to place one on each truck in the future. This device is a major step forward in treatment of cardiac arrest. It dramatically improves circulation compared to standard CPR. We are hoping this device will improve our cardiac arrest survival. PCEMS is one of the first services in the state to deploy the device and one of only a handful of services in the nation.
PCEMS has applied for an Assistance to Fire Figher's Grant. We hope to purchase new power cots that will make patient moving safer for crews and patients. The grant application was denied this year.

Call volume fiscal year ending June 2006:

2007
PCEMS applied for the Assistance to Fire Fighter's Grant again in 2007. The grant application was again for powered cots. We still feel this has great potential to decrease injuries to both patients and providers. These cots have the ability to raise up to 700 pounds with just the push of a button. They are powered by 24 volt rechargable batteries. July, 2007 PCEMS was awarded this grant request in Round 2. By November 2007, all 9 first line ambulances are equiped with the new cots. PCEMS purchased the Stryker Power Pro XT cot. Putnam County EMS is one of the first few services in the state to have these devices.

Call volume fiscal year ending June 2007:

2008

Call volume fiscal year ending June 2008: