Mercy EMS began operation in 1982 as St. John's EMS, providing coverage to the Springfield-Greene County area. Since that time, Mercy has expanded operations to more than 15 counties across Southwest, Central, and South Central Missouri, Northwest Arkansas, Oklahoma. Each service area has its own unique characteristics with coworkers who are dedicated to serving the needs of their communities. The
expansion of Mercy EMS occurred as follows:
1982 - Springfield South
1985 - Buffalo / Dallas County
1985 - Aurora
1985 - Mansfield / Mountain Grove / Wright County
1986 - Mt. Vernon
1986 - Branson West / Stone County
1986 - Mountain View / Summersville / Texas & Howell Counties
1988 - Springfield North
1995 - Lebanon
1997 - Camden County Ambulance District
1997 - Winona
2000 - Berryville / Carroll County Arkansas
2001 - Green Forest / Carroll County Arkansas
2012 - Carthage Ambulance / Jasper & Lawrence Counties
2013 - Fort Scott, KS
2013 - El Reno, OK
2013 - Ada, OK
2017 - Paul's Valley, OK
2018 - Konowa, OK
2023 - Perryville, MO
Mercy EMS is staffed with three-hundred and fifty coworkers. Our Administrative staff include our Medical Director, Director of EMS, 2 Regional EMS Managers, 4 EMS Managers, 11 Operations Supervisors, and 14 Field Supervisors. Mercy EMS is supported by an EMS Office Staff which includes an EMS Office Manager, and QM Billing Specialists. The system currently operates a fleet of 63 Ambulances, 6 Supervisor Response Vehicles, and a number of Rapid Deployment Trailers including a Regional Communication asset, Mass Casualty Trailer, Special Response Team, Special Event Team, and Mortuary Assistance Unit. Mercy EMS responds to more than 62,000 requests for service annually. While the majority of those requests involve emergency medical response, other requests include routine and long distance transfers, fire and law enforcement standbys, special events, and special operations. In 2004 Mercy EMS became part of the Region D Homeland Security Response Team, providing medical assets for suspected terrorist events in the state of Missouri and surrounding regions. Since that time, the Homeland Security team has evolved into Mercy EMS Special Response Team. Mercy SRT consists of 12 Full-time Paramedics, who are trained in Hazardous Materials, Specialized Rescue, and Tactical Law Enforcement techniques. Mercy EMS also operates a Special Events Team which consists of 9 Full-time EMTs and Paramedics who provide Bike EMS coverage for local events such as the Mercy Sunshine Run, Ozark Empire Fair, Sertoma Club Rock n' Ribs, along with several others. Each member of the Special Events Team is assigned and maintains a specially fitted Cannondale bicycle. Prior to beginning service with the team, each member must complete a 40 hour bicycle operations course from the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA). Aside from Emergency Medical Response, Mercy EMS operates and maintains a Full-time Out Patient Transport Division. The OPT Division staffs two full-time coworkers, two part time coworkers, and a number of prn staff. Utilizing a fleet of three transportation wheelchair vans, and two shuttle busses, the OPT Division operates Monday - Friday to transport individuals to any appointments scheduled within the Mercy System. Mercy EMS Education Divison serves a vital role for the system. The EMS Education Division provides quarterly competency education for all EMT's and Paramedics who are actively working on ground EMS. The quarterly competency education contains trainings such as Protocol Updates, Reviews, and Testing, 12-Lead EKG testing, skills competency testing, and equipment updates. The EMS Education Division also offers an annual Paramedic Training Program which begins each August, semi-annual EMT programs which begin in August and January, as well as Monday Night CEU classes which meet one Monday each month year round and provides free CEU's to Emergency Medical Responders around the community. For more information on the EMS Education Programs call 417-820-5454.
