Editor’s Note: Stokes County EMS launched a new digital initiative to meet recruits where they are with a video series highlighting their culture of progressive and compassionate medicine, with emphasis on what sets their service apart. (Video courtesy Noah Overby/Stokes County EMS)
By Stokes County EMS leadership
At Stokes County EMS, we believe that delivering exceptional emergency care to our neighbors begins with taking exceptional care of our own team. Being a paramedic is more than a job — it’s a calling that demands immense strength mentally, physically and emotionally. That’s why we are proud to highlight the thoughtful, intentional changes we’ve made to grow not only as a high-performing medical service, but as a supportive home for the dedicated professionals who wear our patch every day.
| WATCH NOW: 76% of EMS providers say burnout is at crisis levels. Ignoring it isn’t an option
Prioritizing the person behind the provider
Our most significant recent evolution isn’t just about cutting-edge tools; it’s about respecting time, well-being and the human spirit. We are excited to confirm our official transition from the traditional 24/48 schedule to a more sustainable, provider-focused 24/72 model.
In the demanding world of EMS, recovery is essential for long-term health and peak clinical performance. Granting crews three full days off between 24-hour shifts allows for meaningful rest, stronger family time and a true work-life balance that is often missing in this industry. Our providers return to their stations refreshed, focused and ready to deliver their best to the community we proudly serve. This shift demonstrates through real action that we value providers as people first, not just as a clinicians in a seat on an ambulance.
This change is about much more than just hours on a clock; it is about longevity in a challenging career. By moving to a 24/72 rotation, Stokes County is addressing provider burnout head-on. We recognize that our paramedics are parents, spouses and community members who deserve to be present for their own lives. When a provider joins our team, they aren’t just a number on a schedule; they are a vital part of a family that looks out for one another’s mental and physical health.
Shift Supervisor Allen Overby, a 15-year paramedic veteran who returned home to Stokes County after years of service elsewhere, expresses his lived experience at Stokes County EMS: “We foster a culture of genuine support from the inside out.” Here, dual-paramedic crews share the clinical load on every ambulance, and trucks routinely back each other up on difficult calls. Our supervisors respond quickly to provide hands-on help during high-acuity, low-frequency events. At Stokes County EMS, teamwork is the everyday standard — not the exception.
Advanced medicine with a personal touch
Rooted in small-town heart, our clinical capabilities stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the region’s most progressive urban systems. We live by the “Mama Rule”— treating every patient with the same dignity and urgency as if they were our own family member. To uphold that standard, we practice forward-thinking protocols and have invested in top-tier technology, including:
- Life-saving interventions: We utilize field whole blood administration (carried by supervisors), RSI/DAI capabilities, and push-dose pressors to ensure our patients have the best chance at survival before they ever reach the hospital doors.
- Top-tier equipment: Our crews utilize LIFEPAK 15 monitors, LUCAS mechanical compression devices, ZOLL ventilators, and GlideScope for advanced airway management.
- Unit readiness: Antibiotics, TXA and other critical medications are stocked on every ambulance. This is supported by a fleet of new, well-maintained vehicles equipped with Power-LOAD stretchers to ensure provider safety and patient comfort.
We offer competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including fully paid employee health benefits (life, dental and vision insurance with supplemental plans available), participation in the NC Local Government Retirement System, 401(k) matching, and generous vacation, sick and holiday leave. In Stokes County, providers enjoy a consistently manageable call volume with solid staffing ratios, paired with the clinical autonomy to practice high-level paramedicine without the burnout typical of high-volume urban systems. This balance allows providers to truly focus on the patients in front of them, providing the kind of compassionate care that rural EMS is known for.
Seeing is believing: Our new digital presence
We want our community and prospective team members to see the real people behind the sirens. That’s why we have launched our dedicated YouTube channel (@stokesEMS), featuring heartfelt real-world stories like our initial field interview, with Shift Supervisor Overby. He shares what truly sets us apart: a salt-of-the-earth community in the beautiful North Carolina foothills that genuinely appreciates its first responders, leadership with an open-door policy and minimal red tape, strong crew camaraderie, and the stunning backdrop from the vistas of Hanging Rock State Park to the serene Dan River. This is the first in a series of videos that will focus on our team, from the inside out.
Follow us on Instagram (@stokescountyems) for daily behind-the-scenes glimpses into crew life, training events, and community interactions. Providers will also see our refreshed branding, including a bold new logo that proudly incorporates the silhouette of our local mountains — symbolizing the enduring strength of our team and the stability we bring to Stokes County. Progress isn’t accidental; it is intentionally built together, and we want providers to see exactly what that looks like in the day-to-day life of our providers.
| WEBINAR: End the burnout cycle with proven initiatives to create a more sustainable EMS culture
Join a team that truly values providers
Stokes County is grounded in hardworking, grateful people who recognize and thank their first responders every single day. That appreciation turns even the toughest shifts into deeply rewarding ones. We are not just hiring employees — we are inviting individuals who want to join a culture where how we care for patients and each other matters as much as the care itself.
If you are a credentialed paramedic seeking a supportive environment, a schedule that honors your life outside of work, and the chance to use progressive skills in a beautiful rural setting, we would be honored to welcome you to Stokes County EMS. Come experience the difference of working in a system that views you as an asset to be nurtured, not just a resource to be used.
Take the next step
- Watch: Experience our culture firsthand on YouTube
- Connect: Join the conversation and see daily life on Instagram
- Apply Now: Begin your journey today via the Stokes County Employment Portal or contact EMS Operations Manager Renee Bridges directly at rbridges@co.stokes.nc.us or 336-593-5409
Our story is unfolding, and there is a seat waiting for you in one of our ambulances. Come home to Stokes County EMS — where what we do matters, how we do it matters and you matter.
