Montgomery County Hospital District expands ambulances, telemedicine in 2026

The Montgomery County Hospital District is enhancing its ambulance fleet, launching new stations, and broadening telemedicine services in response to the rising number of emergency calls driven by the county's swift population growth.

Officials reported that MCHD delivers emergency medical services across Montgomery County, noting a steady annual increase of approximately 4% in service calls over the last two years. Since 2020, the number of calls has surged from 73,155 to 92,546 in 2024, creating ongoing challenges for staffing, equipment, and response times.

“As more individuals flock to Montgomery County, it’s only natural that there will be a rise in the demand for ambulance services,” stated James Campbell, chief of EMS at MCHD. “For us, maintaining growth has been the central focus.”

The district is actively collaborating with fire departments to plan new stations throughout the county, a strategy that, according to Campbell, saves taxpayer dollars and enhances efficiency. “From the perspective of taxpayers, collaborating to share a home is a more sensible approach than constructing two separate houses directly opposite one another,” he stated.

This month marks the opening of Station 24, located within the newly established Woodlands Fire Department Station 5 on McBeth Way. The expansive 21,565-square-foot facility features 14 dorm rooms along with four-and-a-half apparatus bays. In December, Station 16 on Calvary Road commenced operations, featuring two ambulances, one of which is designated for peak-hour demand. Station 46, located on FM 2854 south of Lake Conroe, will open in August.

According to Campbell, strategically positioning several ambulances at designated stations enhances deployment efficiency. “Having two ambulances enables us to optimise our space and resources,” he stated.

Jason Millsaps, executive director of the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management, emphasised that the district maintains a leading standard across the state. “The national recognition of MCHD as a leader in emergency medicine highlights the exceptional quality of care they deliver,” Millsaps stated.

One challenge persists: the delays in ambulance manufacturing that originated during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Campbell, a process that previously required six months to complete has now extended to as long as 18 months. The district initiated preparations in 2023 for the addition of ambulances, with delivery scheduled for 2026. Four new ambulances have been put into service, increasing the daily fleet to approximately 41 units, each manned by a crew of two.

MCHD is set to expand its Basic Life Support fleet, increasing the number of trucks from three to six on most days to better manage non-emergency and stable-patient transports. The district is currently testing a telemedicine initiative that enables dispatchers to link non-emergency callers with a physician via virtual means. According to Campbell, the programme currently receives approximately 10 calls each week.

“Everyone seems to be busier than ever before,” Campbell remarked. “We are all harnessing our creativity to optimise our resources and ensure efficiency with what is available to us.”