4:19 PM Joey Pilcher and Ron Durham of Pilcher ( Dothan ) Ambulance Service

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Aug 22 2024 4:39 PM

DOTHAN:     This is a normal occurence but RSN was at the right place and time to capture a picture.

Just before noon there was a truck verses motorcycle accident in the 2200 block of South Oates Street. Dothan 911 dispatched Dothan Fire Engine 2, Pilcher Ambulance and Dothan Police.

No one ever plans for emergencies. Today, I doubt very seriously, in fact I am 100% sure, having a motorcycle wreck was not in the plans for the gentleman on the motorcycle for today.

This was a trauma alert, broken bones, wreck. The injuries are not believed to be life threatening. But when EMS went to place the gentleman on the backboard it hurt. He was screaming in pain.

On Pilcher's ( Dothan ) Ambulance Service which responded to the scene - Joey Pilcher and Ron Durham. Joey's parents, Joe and Ruby Pilcher, founded Pilcher ( Dothan ) Ambulance Service, probably close to 60 years ago. Ron Durham is the operations manager and a retired Dothan Fire Paramedic. Joey's wife, Debbie, is keeping the operation running from the office business side while Joey and Ron are keeping the ambulances rolling.

Prior to Mr. Joe and Mrs. Ruby forming Pilcher Ambulance, gues who ran the ambulances? The funeral homes!

It is normal when emergencies are hitting that Joey and Ron are on the ambulance responding to calls. With the combination of Dothan Fire, Joey and Ron, you see Joey on the end of the backboard lifting the patient from the ground to the stretcher, then loading the patient into the ambulance.

Over the years I have made the comment that Joey needed to give schools on how to clean ambulances. Joey thought I was being a smart butt. However, I was serious. Because he demands the ambulances are kept extremely clean, sanitized and in tip top condition. Pilcher ( Dothan ) Ambulance Service has their own full time mecahnic shop that not only maintains Pilcher ( Dothan ) Ambulance Service units, but work on other departments ambulances.

In Dothan City Limits, Pilcher ( Dothan ) Ambulance service responds to over 12,000 calls that come into 911. They have a territory in the county and serve as backup to the five EMS units that operate in the county.

There is a lot to operating a EMS Service. A lot of calls responded to, no one is transported. That means no one pays. Respond to a structure fire, proud no one gets hurt, but the ambulance stands by for three hours while the fire is fought. No one to bill. Respond to a lift assist and no one is transported, no one to bill. Then insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid, do not pay the full bill and take months to ever pay what little is paid. A very difficult business to operate with a profit.

Pilcher's ( Dothan ) Ambulance Service has a full and part time staff of about 100 people. They run emergency 911 ambulances, transport ambulances to other facilities, wheelchair vans, and patient that require ambulance transport to doctor's appointments.

Other EMS providers have come and gone. One constant and dependable for 60 plus years has been the Pilcher family in the EMS business.

And owners Joey and Debbie Pilcher, every day, are working, responding, transporting those injured and sick.

 

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