Starting this morning, Shoals Ambulance will officially begin operations in Franklin County.

Shoals Ambulance received the contract on Sept. 15 to be the exclusive provider of ambulance services, whether emergency or non-emergency, for all of Franklin County, with the exception of the Phil Campbell coverage area, which will continue to be serviced by the Phil Campbell Rescue Squad.

The contract, which was a provision of Franklin County’s newly adopted ambulance ordinance, was the culmination of nine months worth of discussions, revisions, and back-and-forth debate concerning which company would become the county’s sole provider of services.

The contract was awarded at the Franklin County Commission meeting on the recommendation of the Franklin County EMS Committee, which was established to handle all matters pertaining to the ambulance ordinance and contract.

According to provisions laid out in the contract, Shoals Ambulance officials said their company will place two ambulances around-the-clock in Franklin County – one each at permanent stations in Russellville and Red Bay. Additional ambulances will be placed in the county during peak 12-hour time frames.

The first 12-hour ambulance is slated to begin operations at 6 a.m. on Oct. 15 in the city of Russellville at the Russellville Hospital campus, where they will have a permanent station. A second 12-hour ambulance will begin operations at 7 a.m. in Red Bay at the city ambulance building, where they will also have a permanent station. A 24-hour ambulance will begin operations at 8 a.m. at the Russellville location, and an additional 24-hour ambulance will begin operations at 8:30 a.m. at the Red Bay location on Oct. 15.

“Our goal has always been to provide the best quality service for the citizens,” Probate Judge Barry Moore said.

“This has been a long process, and we are glad to have this all behind us and finally be moving forward, and we are glad to have Shoals Ambulance working here in Franklin County.”

According to officials, the Shoals Ambulance operates the only critical care ambulance program in Northwest Alabama from its Florence headquarters. Critical care ambulances are mobile intensive care units for patients that require advanced care in transit to and from medical facilities. Previously, critical care ambulances had to be mobilized from Huntsville, Birmingham or Nashville.

Blake Hargett, the operations supervisor for Shoals Ambulance Service, said each state-of-the-art emergency vehicle is equipped with the latest lifesaving technology, including LIFEPAK cardiac monitoring devices.

In addition to emergency response to E-911 calls, Shoals Ambulance also will offer prescheduled medical transport to and from doctor’s visits, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and dialysis appointments with basic life support, advanced life support and critical care ambulances.

“We are glad to welcome Shoals Ambulance to our community and to have their office located on our campus,” said Russellville Hospital CEO Christine Stewart.

“Our staff in our emergency department is working closely with Shoals Ambulance EMTs and paramedics to ensure that Franklin County residents receive the highest quality health care from the time a patient calls 911 to when they are discharged from our hospital.”

Hargett said he was excited to finally begin operations in Franklin County.

“Shoals Ambulance deeply invests in the communities we serve, and our patients are our top priority,” he said.

“We are proud to be the ambulance provider for Franklin County and are grateful for the warm welcome we have received from the entire community. We are looking forward to serving the citizens of Franklin County and providing them with an excellent level of care.”

Contact numbers for Shoals Ambulance are:

> All emergencies call 911

> Non-emergency calls: 256-668-3120 or 256-381-7900

> Russellville station office: 256-331-9300

> Red Bay station office: 256-356-2002