Carroll County residents raise concerns about ambulance staffing and emergency response

CARROLL COUNTY, Tenn. (WBBJ) - Concerns about ambulance staffing have some Carroll County residents and local leaders questioning how long people may have to wait for help during an emergency.

At an October meeting, McKenzie Police Chief Ryan White described one incident in which a woman waited alongside the road for 48 minutes.

“The lady lay on the side of the road for 48 minutes. 48 minutes. Almost got the front end of her car taken off by an 18-wheeler,” White said.

White and other local leaders called recent delays unacceptable. Priority Ambulance provides service across Carroll County, an area of about 600 square miles. An additional unit was brought in after the meeting, but some residents are questioning whether it will be enough.

Carroll County resident Nina Dennington said she worries about her family and neighbors, particularly those who live farther from help.

“Then if you’re in a wreck, that’s scary, because we don’t know if there’s going to be anybody to help you out,” Dennington said.

She said she is considering purchasing medical equipment to keep at home.

“Being out in the country, it’s getting scary, so I’m thinking about getting a LifeVac, some equipment to do medical things on my own,” she said.

The challenges facing rural emergency services extend beyond Carroll County. A study presented at the American College of Surgeons’ 2025 Clinical Congress found that total EMS call times averaged 92.8 minutes in rural communities, compared with 74.1 minutes nationally. The measure included the time spent responding to the scene, providing care on scene and transporting patients. The research was presented as an abstract and had not yet been peer reviewed, according to the college.

Doug Carter, CEO of healthcare recruitment agency Ironside Human Resources, said addressing staffing challenges could take time because employers are competing for workers across the country.

“You’re competing on a national level for hiring versus just locally,” Carter said.

He said pay could be an important factor in attracting more workers.