Weakley County Has a New Ambulance Service Provider

DRESDEN — Starting Sept. 1, emergency medical care across Weakley County will transition to a new provider without breaking stride, as American Medical Response (AMR) officially steps in to deliver 24-hour ambulance coverage.

Under a new contract awarded by the Weakley County Commission, AMR will operate three advanced life support ambulances around the clock out of bases in Martin, Dresden, and Greenfield. To ensure a smooth transition and maintain familiarity on local roads, many of the paramedics and EMTs who currently serve the area are joining the AMR team. County officials emphasize that residents facing an emergency should notice no disruption in service and should continue dialing 911 as usual.

The decision to bring in AMR, a division of Global Medical Response (GMR), followed a competitive procurement process that weighed factors such as local staffing, response readiness, and fiscal responsibility. Spanning roughly 580 square miles, Weakley County relies heavily on robust emergency transport to connect residents to critical care—whether at local facilities like West Tennessee Healthcare or regional hubs like Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, located 45 miles away in Jackson.

"We recognize the strong foundation built by the clinicians who have served Weakley County for decades, and our priority is to provide a seamless transition for patients, healthcare partners and the community," said Kent Martin, senior program director for Global Medical Response.

Martin noted that in rural areas, emergency medical crews play a crucial role long before reaching a hospital bed. "EMS clinicians begin treatment before a patient reaches the hospital and help coordinate the next step in care. Our responsibility is to make that connection as safely and effectively as possible," he said.

In addition to standard 911 dispatch and non-emergency interfacility transfers, the new contract adds an advanced life support quick-response vehicle to the county's fleet. The local ground crews will also integrate with GMR's broader regional network, which includes Air Evac Lifeteam 31—an air ambulance service stationed in Martin since 2003. Because both agencies share a parent company, local ground and air teams anticipate seamless coordination during critical incidents.

To ensure accountability, AMR will present quarterly operational reports to the Weakley County Public Safety Committee as part of its contract.