M. Nixon
Deputy Chief of Operations
Battalion Chiefs
(top row, left to right) S. Binkley, J. Denning, M. Mader, J. Harrison, D. Gamble
(bottom row, left to right) - P. Smith, C. Sandoval, N. Eye, R. Lane
The Fort Bend County EMS operations division is responsible for the safe, effective delivery of evidence-based prehospital medicine to over 820,000 residents inside 885 square miles of service area. To accomplish this, the department operates 16 dual-paramedic mobile intensive care unit (MICU) ambulances, 3 single-paramedic squads and 3 battalion chiefs daily. The operations division consists of 122 field paramedics and 9 battalion chiefs.
Each ambulance is staffed with 2 paramedics, each of whom are credentialed at either the in-charge paramedic or paramedic attendant level. The credentialing process verifies clinical and operational competencies necessary to provide critical care and advanced procedures in a safe, effective manner. Paramedics share the responsibility of providing exceptional patient care and safe transport to the hospital.
Paramedic squads are single-paramedic sport utility vehicles strategically placed in rural Fort Bend County to provide timely patient care in isolated or low call volume areas. Squads carry the same lifesaving equipment as ambulances, allowing the squad paramedic to perform critical care and advanced procedures with the same level of efficiency as would a paramedic on an ambulance. The squad does not normally transport; therefore, it is able to remain in its assigned territory should it be needed for subsequent emergency calls for service.
Battalion Chiefs are field supervisors providing the bridge between field providers and executive command staff. Battalion Chiefs provide operational system oversight on a daily basis. In addition to providing patient care when necessary, Battalion Chiefs also serve as the liaison between Fort Bend County EMS and first-responder organization partners. Battalion Chiefs also provide internal & external customer service as well as schedule management and other special project assignments. Summarizing, Battalion Chiefs are the department’s multi-faceted utility player.
Fort Bend County paramedics work 48 hours on duty, followed by 96 hours off duty on a rotating 3-shift schedule. The department operates custom-built Frazer ambulances on RAM 3500 chassis with LiquidSpring suspension systems and outfitted with LED lighting and dual sirens. Ambulances are equipped with Stryker PowerPro stretchers, Stryker stair chairs, Lucas mechanical CPR devices and AirTrach video laryngoscopes. In June 2020, the department will deploy Zoll X-series cardiac monitors with 12-Lead EKG transmission capability, non-invasive blood pressure monitoring, CO/SPO2/ETCO2 monitoring and Real CPR Help (which studies show may triple the odds of surviving cardiac arrest).
