Marlboro County Council approved a plan to create an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Advisory Board, in an effort to reduce long response times within the county.
On Monday evening, council approved a third and final reading of an ordinance to establish the advisory board.
“We thought it was necessary to have this board because we will be starting our county-wide EMS service July 1 of this year,” council chair Carolyn Prince said.
Previously, the county created an EMS task force to figure out what to do about emergency care issues. Part of that effort led to the establishment of the board.
Marlboro County lost its only hospital a few years ago, stretching emergency crews thin and causing delays for patients in the area.
Also on Monday, council approved a resolution advocating the amendment of South Carolina laws and regulations to allow the establishment and operation of hospitals or free-standing emergency departments in SC border counties, by out of state hospital systems.
County administrator Rob Munnerlyn told News13 previously that the changes could allow a North Carolina hospital to bring emergency services to the county.
Council also approved an ordinance Monday to provide for the franchising procedures and standards for private ambulance services in the county.
Munnerlyn’s contract was also renewed for three years at Monday’s council meeting.
