WASHINGTON CO. EMS REPORTS INCREASE IN MILEAGE, CALLS TO JAIL

  

Washington County Commissioners heard a slate of department and office reports at their meeting this (Tuesday) morning.

During EMS Director Kevin Deramus’ quarterly report, he shared that the department’s calls to the county jail for this quarter, between April and June, are averaging at 15 per month.  Those are up nearly double from the 8.8 calls per month during the same timeframe in 2023.

One of the reasons for the increase is due to EMS having to come to the jail to perform blood draws on people suspected of driving while intoxicated.  The most blood draws needed during any month of this quarter in 2023 was four; last month, there were ten. 

Commissioner Candice Bullock asked if it would be possible to eliminate EMS’ responsibility to do the blood draws since, through the county’s transition to MedHealth as the new jail medical services provider, the county will have its own medical staff at the jail.  Deramus said he hopes that will be the case as it would be more efficient, but First Assistant County Attorney Kacie Murphy said there will be some steps in that process, since it entails getting employees involved in the chain of custody and following all the steps required by law enforcement.  For now, Deramus said he expects EMS will likely handle the blood draws through the rest of the year.

Deramus also spoke on an increase in the EMS fleet’s driven miles.  He said the department is currently on pace for about 100,000 more miles in a year compared to the previous year, and while calls for service have risen somewhat, he believes the main reason is St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital in Bryan dropping from a Level II trauma center to a Level III.  While EMS can still transport patients to Bryan, the change in designation means that depending on the patient’s level of care needed, they instead need to go to Level II or Level I trauma centers in Temple, Houston or Austin. 

Deramus said St. Joseph can regain Level II status as part of a yearly review, but it is an expensive status to maintain. 

Commissioners also received the monthly sheriff’s office report from Captain Eddie Ocanas, who said many categories of offenses were down from the previous month.  He did say there was an increase in thefts and burglaries, but they were mostly “bleedover” from the previous month that had not yet been reported, and they were random incidents that are not tied to the organized activity that he discussed during the sheriff’s office’s report last month.  Those cases remain under investigation, with Ocanas noting that the group involved has also “made their rounds” in area counties like Austin, Fayette and Waller.

Following that, commissioners reviewed the monthly reports of the county and district clerks, justices of the peace, auditor, tax assessor-collector and constables.