Billy Gibson
Emergency Services Director

Michael Marling
Emergency Medical Service Director

Niki Campbell
Office Manager/Logistics

EMS Supervisors
David Robinson - A-Shift
Chris Elrod - B-Shift
Brad West - C-Shift

MISSION

The mission of Pickens County EMS is:

• to respond to the pre-hospital medical needs of the citizens and visitors of Pickens
  County with highly trained, compassionate Emergency Medical Technicians,
• to deliver prompt, efficient, and appropriate care during emergency and non-emergency
  situations,
• to assist in the education of the citizens about EMS and what they can do in case of
  an emergency,
• to be of assistance to the citizens of Pickens County in all areas of pre-hospital care
  and the prevention of illnesses/injuries.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What type of services do you offer?

A: Pickens County EMS is a licensed Advanced Life Support service and is the sole 911 provider in the County. We respond to all 911 emergency medical calls within the County.  We also provide emergency inter-facility transports from one hospital to another if your physician decides you need services not available at the initial location.

Q: Do you charge for these services?

A: Yes, even though we are a county department that operates with tax dollars, there is a user
fee that is imposed each time an ambulance is used. These fees are set by County Council
and are reviewed and updated regularly.

Q: How much does ambulance service cost?

A: The cost depends on the level of service. These levels depend on the patient's needs and
what procedures are performed.

Q: How are the ambulances staffed?

A: Each ambulance is staffed with at least 1 Paramedic and 1 Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT), Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate (EMT-I) or Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT).  Each technician is certified through guidelines set forth by the Department of Health of Environmental Control-EMS division (DHEC-EMS).
 

Q: How can I become an Emergency Medical Technician?

A: The first step is to attain a High School diploma or GED. The Basic EMT course is offered
at local technical schools or at Upstate EMS Council in Greenville. The Basic EMT course is
approximately six months, depending on the number of days per week the class
meets. After attaining the Basic EMT certification, the candidate must be affiliated with a
licensed service in South Carolina to upgrade to one of the next levels (EMT-Intermediate or
Paramedic). The EMT-Intermediate curriculum is approximately 3-4 months depending on
class dates. A Paramedic certification takes up to 2 additional years. The candidate may
choose to obtain an Associate's Degree in Emergency Medical Technology. This degree can
be obtained through Greenville Technical College.

Q: Where are the EMS stations located in the county?

A: There are 8 substations throughout Pickens County. Each station houses one Advanced Life Support emergency ambulance with at least one Paramedic on board.
 

Q: Who do I call if I have a question about my bill?

A: Call Low Country Billing @ 1-800-533-3915.

Q: Who should I contact if I have questions not related to billing?

A: The main office is located at 1509 Walhalla Hwy. The number is 898-5334.

Q: Which hospitals do you transport patients to?

A: We try to transport patients to their hospital of choice unless there is an underlying
reason to go to another hospital.
Examples:
• Trauma patients (that fall into certain criteria) are transported directly to a Trauma Center.

• When Pickens County EMS is very busy (the majority of ambulances are on a 911 call) the patient could be transported to a local hospital which is equipped to handle the patient’s complaint.  This allows the ambulance to return to service and available for another call quickly.

• When we have a critical trauma or medical situation we may fly the patient by helicopter to a hospital with the best resources to treat the patient.  The helicopter transportation is billed separately from the ambulance bill.

Q: Do you bill Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance companies?

A: Yes, we will bill the insurance provider that you provide us at the time of your
transportation. Medicare, Medicaid, or your private insurance will decide whether or not your
transportation is covered under your policy. They may or may not pay your bill for you. That
decision is theirs, based on your coverage.