ACEMS Station 6 & UT Lifestar...Grand Opening!

On October 13, 2008 Anderson County EMS in conjunction with UT Lifestar held an open house event to celebrate the grand opening of both their new stations. Anderson County EMS is no stranger to the Andersonville Community. For more than a year, Anderson County EMS has stationed an ambulance 24 hours per day at Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department on Mountain Road, though limited space strained the needs of both departments. There was obviously a need for a more permanent home for Anderson County EMS to ensure quicker response times were being met for citizens on the East end of Anderson County. At the same time, UT Lifestar was evaluating the need to expand their system on the northern side of Knox County. Providing air medical services to the northern area of East Tennessee would indeed make the service a regional trauma system. After several meetings, discussions, and negotiations both departments planned to build stations adjacent to one another on First Quality Drive in the Andersonville community.

Anderson County EMS Station 6 will house an Advanced Life Support EMS unit 24 hours per day 7 days per week. This unit will be staffed with a minimum of a Paramedic and EMT at all times and will serve the Norris and Andersonville areas. UT Lifestar's Anderson County base marks the opening of their fifth air base in the region. The base will house an aviation maintenance technician, pilot, paramedic, and nurse providing flight services 24 hours per day 7 days per week. This helicopter will significantly reduce response times to Anderson, Campbell, Scott, and Morgan Counties allowing trauma patients quicker access to definitive medical care. "In the past we've been having to wait 10, 15 even 20 minutes if they're having to come from one of their other bases. By having them stationed here, we're going to have a very short response time. Two or three minutes, which is obviously going to be better patient care, better outcome for our patients," said Anderson County EMS Director Robert Byrd.

On a beautiful Monday afternoon, the event began with several key speakers discussing the challenges and accomplishments associated with making this project a reality. Guest were then led across the parking area to the helicopter pad where a large orange ribbon hung between a new GMC ambulance and a Bell 407 aircraft. A traditional ribbon cutting ceremony followed and guest were welcomed to tour the aircraft and ambulance. Lunch was then provided and guest converged into the aircraft hanger to eat and converse. After lunch, both the EMS station and air base were open for tours. Anderson County Emergency Medical Services would like to thank all those involved with making this project a huge success! Special thanks goes to the Anderson County Board of Commissioners, without their support and dedication this project would not have been possible. Again, we welcome UT Lifestar to Anderson County and look forward to many great years of working side by side.