CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman Regional announced Wednesday it is offering a $2,000 sign-on bonus for paramedics for the Cullman EMS Ambulance Team.
“EMS Services across Alabama and throughout the United States have been experiencing staffing shortages prior to COVID-19,” Chief Operations Officer Nesha Donaldson said. “Those issues have simply increased due to COVID-19. Throughout the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused staffing challenges for Cullman EMS as many of our team members have not only contracted the virus, but many have become quite ill causing extended absences from work so they can recover.”
Paramedics and EMTs frequently put themselves in environments that make them more susceptible to catching an infectious disease such as COVID-19 while working to provide life-saving care. Safety precautions help prevent the spread; however, none of the current precautions prevent the spread 100% of the time.
In December of 2020, RPS, the other local ambulance transport provider, chose to leave the service area due to decreased demand for their primary service – non-emergent transfers – because of the COVID-19 pandemic. These combined challenges have created an opportunity for Cullman EMS to expand its workforce and its fleet.
In December 2020, Cullman Regional purchased an additional ambulance to add to the Cullman EMS fleet in order to absorb any additional transfer volume following RPS’ departure from the market.
As the sole emergency response ambulance provider for 911 calls in Cullman County, Cullman EMS has and always will prioritize emergency calls over non-emergent transfers. We are happy to help provide non-emergent transfers as needed for the long-term care providers in our community who consistently need assistance transferring patients for necessary medical care.
For more information about the paramedic positions available through Cullman Regional and Cullman EMS, call at 256-737-2620 or visit www.CullmanRegional.com.
