A Lesson in Timing: A Nonemergency Solution to an Emergency Service Decision

The Morgan County Emergency Medical Service (MCEMS), West Virginia, was faced with a problem. Since its inception in 1976, it had been housed in the second floor and garage of a building owned by a beer distributor. The station, although conveniently located, was inadequate for physical reasons. The garage supports would not safely accommodate the weight of the vehicles, and the owner of the building was unwilling to have the facility improved. As the MCEMS expanded, the amount of space that was available became inadequate and several of the vehicles had to be parked along the highway. The MCEMS decided to request funds from the Morgan County Commissioners to lease or purchase a more adequate and compatible facility. One of the authors had performed a feasibility study for a new facility, before MCEMS approached the County Commission to request building funds.