Chocowinity EMS is taking their operation to the paramedic level.

Approved earlier this month by a Beaufort County Board of Commissioners vote, the squad is now tackling the specifics: outfitting trucks, increasing supplies and hiring on six to eight paramedics before paramedic services go live on July 1.

(Approval) was really the only hurdle we had as far as going to the paramedic level,” said Chocowinity EMS Capt. Dana Hunnewell. “All the paperwork is signed for us and it’s with the state.”

The vote to approve Chocowinity EMS moving to the paramedic level was split 4 to 3. Commissioners Hood Richardson, Gary Brinn and Stan Deatherage voting against, with each saying more research into structure and how much the upgrade would cost was needed before approving the measure. They were voted down, however, after Commissioner Robert Belcher refused to remove his motion to approve the upgrade, saying he had been to the same public safety meeting Richardson had attended, one in which the economics of the upgrade were discussed in detail.

On Emergency Management Coordinator John Pack’s recommendation, the remaining members of the board gave approval.

“I advise that Chocowinity be allowed to move to the level of paramedic,” Pack told the board. “I think it’s in the best interest of all of those in the Chocowinity Township, especially those in the Blounts Creek area.”

“They are not asking us for any more money,” Pack assured commissioners. “While I find that fascinating, we’re not going to get that offer from someone else.”

According to Hunnewell, Chocowinity EMS requires no additional funding from the county to upgrade to the paramedic level. Rather, Chocowinity EMS will be able recoup its payouts by billing insurance companies for its services at the higher paramedic rate.

“The increase we’re going to get in our billing revenue is going to cover it,” Hunnewell said.

Additional supplies for the trucks have already been worked into the Chocowinity EMS budget, with the major cost being the increase in payroll, but even that isn’t as hefty as most would assume, Hunnewell said.

“The cost isn’t going to be that much different. Payroll will increase by $17-18,000 — the average difference between an intermediate and a paramedic is about $2 an hour,” Hunnewell explained.

Chocowinity will not only be able to bill for paramedic calls, but for paramedic intercepts for emergency transports coming from farther east in the county. Intercepts, in which a paramedic gets on a basic- or intermediate-level rescue truck, can be billed at $200, while a base rate plus treatments (and mileage) will determine how much an paramedic transport will cost more locally.

“It depends on the call,” Hunnewell said. “The sickest of sick patients will probably be about $800 … But it really depends on the call.”

Hunnewell expects to hire between six and eight paramedics for the Chocowinity squad, which will allow it to provide better service for Chocowinity and the entire south side of the Pamlico River. There are currently three EMTs with paramedic-level credentials on staff with Chocowinity EMS, including Hunnewell.

Predating his hire as captain, Chocowinity’s EMS Board had been pushing for the upgrade to paramedic-level service, simply because of the major differences between intermediate-level and paramedic-level services, not the least of which is education, he said. In North Carolina, a basic EMT certification requires 175 to 200 hours of classroom and lab training; an EMT-Paramedic requires about 10 times that amount. Inside the ambulance, or at an emergency scene, paramedics can provide advanced life support with medications and treatments not available to their EMT-Basic and –Intermediate counterparts.

Chocowinity will be accepting applications until the third week in May, allowing time for potential new hires to go through testing and boards before the July 1 launch date, Hunnewell said.

Hunnewell has been lobbying for the upgrade throughout his tenure at Chocowinity EMS and was pleased the County Commissioners voted to allow it to happen, without it being dragged through the commissioners’ budgeting process.

“I’m really proud of it. It’s something that started before I got there and I was fortunate enough to continue the process,” Hunnewell said. “I’m really happy to see it because there’s going to be a big change in the level of service … In my opinion, every service should be at the paramedic level.”