EMS Shift Assignment Overview
All of our regularly assigned shifts are 12 hours. Our providers are assigned to days, nights, or peak load shifts, all of which have staggered start times.
Employees are assigned to A or C Dayshift, or they're assigned to B or D nightshift. Assignments are permanent, but staff can be wait-listed to move to a different shift. We work to consider preferences on what part of the county providers are assigned to.
Our Staff Positions
Paramedics, AEMTs & EMTs
Our paramedics, AEMTs and EMTs are the very foundation of our entire service. They respond on ambulances day and night to all in the community who call us for help.
They’re held to the highest of expectations as they regularly face challenges that demand they do the best for each and every member of our community.
They regularly learn, train and practice to continuously provide prompt, compassionate, clinically excellent care to the whole of our community.
We strive to continue enriching our workforce with ever-increasing diversity by many measures.
Learn more about who we are and where we're heading.
Field Training Officer
We use Field Training Officers for all new hires as they begin responding to actual 911 calls. They’re responsible for providing training and guidance to new employees. They also fill in for district chiefs, which requires them to have a working knowledge of all administrative functions.
Wake County EMS created a Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP), based on a law enforcement model, with daily observation reports. Its sole purpose is to ensure steady acclimation of employees during their first year. Every new employee, regardless of experience level, is put into the FTEP to ensure staff are medically prepared and have a working knowledge of the local system. FTOs are responsible for administering the program and for their employee's success.
The FTEP program consists of three phases. In the brief Phase 1 period, the employee observes as a third person on the ambulance. In Phase 2, guidance and orientation are provided, which are tailored to the employee’s experience and skill level. In Phase 3, employees are close to fully functional and work to fine-tune skills and departmental knowledge base.
For each shift worked, the FTO completes a Daily Observation Report that highlights the new employee’s strengths and weaknesses for that shift. It also provides ways to improve if there is poor performance, such as testing and remediation.
Advanced Practice Paramedic
Mission: To respond to high acuity calls, reduce the over-utilization of EMS and the local EDs, and redirect patients to the right place at the right time.
Vision: Connect patients with the wealth of resources available in Wake County, break down the silos preventing healthcare integration, and shift the paradigm of prehospital medicine.
Learn more about our APPs
District Chief
District chiefs are EMS field supervisors and have responsibility for staff across various geographical areas in the County.
Their primary role in field response is to coordinate ambulances and other EMS resources when there are multiple units on scene. They are trained and well-prepared to plug into necessary roles in the incident command system.
In addition to their team oversight duties, they also respond to a variety of day to day emergencies. They’re all paramedics with a full set of medical equipment in their vehicle so that they can begin care if needed or provide backup to ambulance equipment and supplies if necessary.
Shift Commander
We have a Shift Commander on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is one shift commander for each of the four 12-hour shifts.
The Shift Commander is responsible for direct oversight of District Chiefs as well as a host of administrative and operational duties. The position launched into service on June 15, 2018.
The following are Wake County EMS System Shift Commanders.
Kevin Phillips
Began with Wake County EMS in 1998 and has served as paramedic, Field Training Officer, District Chief, Honor Guard Member, and PEER/CISD Team Member. He has served in the EMS field since 1998.
Wesley Marshall
Began with Wake County EMS in 1998 and has served as paramedic, Field Training Officer, and District Chief. He also served time as a District Chief with the former Six Forks EMS. He has served in the EMS field since 1992.
Curtis Fuko
Began with Wake County EMS in 2001 and has served as paramedic, Field Training Officer, District Chief, Wolfpack Medic, FTEP Coordinator, and Scheduling Chief. He has served in the EMS field since 1992.
Greg Guillaume
Began with Wake County EMS in 2008 and has served as paramedic, Advanced Practice Paramedic, District Chief, and Tactical Medic. He has served in the EMS field since 2003.
919-815-2698
EMSshiftCommander@wake.gov
Wake County EMS
331 S. McDowell St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
Our Fleet of Vehicles
Ambulances
The primary response ambulances are all Type-III modular units and feature cab extensions for crew comfort. All EMS vehicles operate with a replacement cycle to maximize usage while keeping state-of-the-art technologies on the street. Ambulances boxes are typically remounted one time before retirement.
All response units feature Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) equipment, a GPS-based system that allows the emergency communications center to dispatch the closest available units to any incident. This equipment includes an integrated application for navigation and routing.
"Single Responder Units" - District Chief, APP, Administration
District chiefs, APPs, and some administrative staff operate SUVs with a full set of paramedic equipment. In 2020 we began transitioning district chiefs and APPs over to a modified pickup chassis with a modular box. This provides better organization and access to equipment, and it also has some incident command capability as well. The transition will occur over the course of three to four years.
Administrators are equipped to provide medical assistance if needed or respond to and function in the incident command system at medium and large events.
Logistics
Our hardworking logistics staff have the enormous responsibility of making sure our responders have all the equipment, supplies vehicles they need to take care of the community.
They use this assortment of vehicles to move those supplies and equipment from our warehouse to our EMS stations and to deploy utility trailers and other large pieces of equipment at special operations sites.
Radio call sign: Logs 1
Special Operations
Special Event Coverage
Many special events have large crowds on foot, which can create a challenge for getting to a patient’s side quickly. Our formally trained bike team crews can quickly and safely move through crowds at large venues to bring paramedic care directly to a patient in need. In other situations our venue foot teams are able to walk into hard to reach locations to initiate paramedic care. Once that care is started, a cart can be brought in to continue that care and safely move the patient out of the crowd to a waiting ambulance.
For more information on EMS special event coverage, contact:
Candice Carter
Office: 919-856-6017
Cell: 919-594-3535
Tactical Medic
We regularly provide medical protection for situations when law enforcement teams are serving high risk warrants or negotiating with barricaded persons or in hostage situations. Our tactical medics are suited in protective gear and ready to provide immediate medical intervention for anyone in need during these circumstances.
Major Operations Support Unit
We operate a “Major Operations Support” vehicle, which is equipped to respond to multiple-patient incidents, provide responder rehabilitation and support EMS Special Operations missions.
Radio call sign: Truck 1
Multiple Patient Transport Unit
We operate a Multiple Patient Transport Unit, which is an ambulance on a bus chassis. The unit can transport about 22 people sitting up, 14 stretcher-bound patients or 14 wheelchair-bound patients, depending on configuration.
The unit is part of a state and national network of similar vehicles designed to help move large numbers of patients to an area with more resources during a disaster situation. At the national level, our unit functions within the National Disaster Medical System’s direction. The unit can still be used to assist on more day to day situations in the local area.
In addition to its transport capabilities, it’s also useful as a temporary shelter from extremely hot or cold weather conditions during an emergency.
Radio call sign: EVAC-1
Ambulance Strike Team Trailer
An Ambulance Strike Team is described by FEMA as a group of five ambulances with common communications and a leader in a separate command vehicle. We work under the direction of the State of North Carolina to help build an AST for use during times of disaster.
Typically we’ll partner with surrounding counties to assemble the ambulances. We often provide one of the ambulances along with a supervisor and the trailer seen here, which provides a mobile office, supplies for the mission, and space for sleeping if needed.
The AST provides temporary support for local resources and is most often used in North Carolina in the weeks after hurricanes with big impacts on communities.
Radio call sigh: AST 800
Hazardous Materials Medical Emergency Response & USAR
EMS response to hazardous materials incidents and technical rescue events can get complicated. They require additional training, specialized protective equipment, and expanded treatment protocols. Our HAMMER Team, commonly referred to as USAR Medics, specializes in this type of response.
They are capable of entering “hot zones” and initiating care while the victims are still entrapped. The USAR Paramedics are part of two state-sponsored programs, North Carolina Task Force 8 (NCTF) and Regional Response Team 4 (RRT 4).
NCTF 8 is a state-sponsored urban search and rescue team composed of specially trained rescuers from Raleigh Fire Department, Wake County EMS, Chapel Hill Fire Department, Cary Fire Department and Durham Fire Department. NCTF 8 is a NC Type I USAR asset. This team is equipped and trained to handle technical rescue situations including: building collapse, large-area searches, swift water rescue, trench rescue, high-angle rescue and confined-space rescues.
RRT 4 is a state-sponsored hazardous materials response team. This team is composed of responders specially trained to handle hazardous materials incidents from Raleigh Fire Department with specialized medical support from Wake County EMS.
If you are concerned that an actual hazardous materials event may be occurring, dial 9-1-1. The reference number below is for general team information and should not be used for a real-time situation.
For additional information about the HAMMER Team, please contact:
Candice Carter
Office: 919-856-6017
Cell: 919-594-3535
Honor Guard
Our Honor Guard was formed in 2006 to honor the memory of our fallen brethren and to represent Wake County EMS. The Honor Guard participates in funeral planning and details for fallen members. The Honor Guard also participates in Color Guard presentations at events such as parades, sporting events, official government ceremonies and public safety conferences.
All Honor Guard members are full-time paramedics, AEMTs, or EMTs with the Wake County EMS Division.
Our EMS Stations
Wake County EMS operates out of 36 stations located throughout the County. Many of the stations are purpose built County owned EMS stations, while some of our units use shared bay space at some of the local fire agencies.
Units are sometimes dispatched to coverage areas during busy times, but all units have a home station, and they can report to another EMS station when sent to a coverage area.