Q&A: How to increase EMS retention with competitive pay and a scientific approach to hiring

Taney County Ambulance District Chief Darryl Coontz discusses the department’s approach to staffing and how they avoid retention issues


Maintaining a fully operational staff trained and equipped to respond to any call is the goal of every EMS agency, but one that is too often missed. Over the past 4 years, the annual EMS Trend Report has consistently revealed that agencies struggle to recruit and retain quality providers, forcing many smaller and rural departments to close their doors.  

Darryl Coontz, chief of Taney County Ambulance District (TCAD), believes his agency has found a solution, which includes a combination of improvements in several areas, from a scientific approach to hiring, to a robust professional development program and wages that are – and stay – competitive. Here’s what he had to say.  

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