Agency Of The Year
Altavista EMS is an emergency medical service agency that consists of both career staff and volunteers. We are committed to serving the community with professional and quality service. We serve Southwestern Campbell County including the incorporated Town Of Altavista, a vast section of Northern Pittsylvania County including the incorporated Town Of Hurt, and the Lynch Station/ Leesville community of Bedford County.
The Virginia Department Of Health, Office Of Emergency Medical Services, licenses Altavista Ems to provide emergency medical services. Medical direction is provided for by a progressive set of standing treatment protocols dictated by the Regional Operational Medical Director, and the Agency Operational Medical Director. Blue Ridge Emergency Medical Services acts as the regional council between Altavista EMS, Virginia Department of Health, and the regional health care organization, Centra Health.
The primary headquarters for Altavista EMS is located at 1510 Main Street in the Town of Altavista. The station now houses 5 ambulances, 1 crash truck, 2 rapid response vehicles, 2 boats, and a multi-use 4-wheel drive vehicle.
Altavista EMS is funded by a variety of financial sources. Sources include donations from private donors and governmental contributions from the localities of The County of Pittsylvania, the Town of Altavista, and The Town of Hurt. Additionally, an auxiliary staff of volunteers operate a thrift store dedicated solely to raising of operational funds for Altavista EMS. The thrift store is located in the Town of Altavista at 705 7th Street.
Emergency Medical Services within the Town of Altavista are further enhanced by the integration of services provided by the Altavista Police Department and The Altavista Fire Department. Standing dispatch protocols dictate that in instances of patients reporting to have difficulty breathing, chest pain, or believed to be unconscious that an Altavista Police unit equipped with an automatic external defibrillator ( AED ) will be dispatched to the scene simultaneous to paging for Altavista EMS to respond. In similar instances and in events of severe injuries, First Responders from the Altavista Fire Department are also dispatched to respond. The Campbell County Sheriffs' Office also provides AED units to respond to calls in the county of this nature. The combined effort of these departments lead to a total continuum of care for ill and injured patients by the local public safety agencies up to transfer of care to the Emergency Room Staff.
In addition to these resources, this area is also serviced by a med-flight helicopter operated by The Virginia State Police and staffed with medical personnel provided by Centra Health. Altavista EMS utilizes this resource primarily for patients suffering from severe traumatic injuries, at the discretion of the Altavista Ems attendant in charge and further depends on its availability at the time of request.
Altavista EMS averages nearly 2,500 emergency responses annually. Also more than 130,000 miles are logged annually by Altavista Ems responding to emergencies and transporting ill and injured patients.