Pafford EMS hiring after securing city contract

Representatives from Pafford EMS will be set up in Starkville this week and next to answer questions and field potential new employees to join the ambulance service as it begins operating in Starkville.

Pafford’s Oktibbeha County Manager Tony Fabela told the Starkville Daily News on Thursday that the company will have representatives in the Holiday Inn Express conference room on Highway 12 West to visit with those interested and to answer any questions the community might have.

The Starkville Board of Aldermen approved the contract with Pafford EMS on May 15, with a 5-2 vote, with Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver and Ward 5 Alderman Patrick Miller voting against.

Pafford initially said it would provide four advanced life support (ALS) ambulances within the city with three housed at Fire Stations One, Two and Five.

The ambulances will be stocked with ALS equipment and will have automatic ventilators and CPR tools. Along with equipment, it would provide extensive training and protocols to the Starkville Fire Department, making SFD an ALS first response agency.

Pafford will pay for the required remodeling of the three fire stations to house the ambulance and crew.

Starkville Fire Chief Charles Yarbrough said on Thursday that construction has not yet begun as it relates to the renovations.

Fabela said Pafford is currently in the process of recruiting, before they begin official interviews next week.

“The end of next week, we will start training classes in the area for our state EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course) classes,” Fabela said. “ The following week, we will be starting orientation, going through HR processes, we will also be going over protocols for the medics, check offs and things then documentation classes will start at the end of that following week.”

He then said Pafford will start training with representatives from stretcher manufacturer Ferno, who will come to Starkville to teach the new crews about stretcher operations.

Pafford plans to have three 24-hour ALS units that will start responding in the city starting Aug.1 and and the company has outreach efforts planned with SFD. They are also looking to try to align with a community college in the area for EMT classes and paramedic classes.

“This is just the second day (of recruitment) and it’s been pretty good,” Fabela said. “At this point we’ve hired quite a few people, right now we are just trying to see where we’re at and what kind of shifts we will have.”

Fabela said the shifts will most likely be 24-48s as well as 48-96s, because of the need for some to travel.

“We are definitely looking to get the community involved, Fabela said. “We will be offering CPR classes, multiple different types of classes, and we will be offering more EVOC classes because the state of Mississippi doesn’t require you to be an EMT (to be an emergency vehicle operator). So they can orientate with us hands-on so if we have responsible people in the community who want to come on for part time work.”

For more information on working for Pafford, contact Fabela at tfabela@paffordems.com.

Pafford will be set up at the Holiday Inn Express on the following days:

    •    June 29 -  8 a.m until 12 p.m.

    •    July 2 -  9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

    •    July 3 - 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.