Barry-Lawrence Ambulance buys innovative equipment, total runs for 2025 rise by 6 percent for new record

The Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District ordered innovative equipment and reviewed its 2025 run record at its first board meeting of 2026. 

Dr. Mark L. Brown made his first appearance as the district’s new medical director, succeeding Dr. Matt Brandt. Brown works as emergency medical director for Freeman Hospital in Joplin and Fort Scott, Kan., and the METS ambulance service in Joplin. Brown made a presentation to the board about a new intubation tool, part of a video laryngoscope. 

Putting tubes for breathing down the throats of patients had become less popular among emergency responders. Board member David Compton, who ran the meeting, noted that intubation had been common when he worked as a paramedic. More current protocols let patients reach a critical point before calling for intervention. Brown said this new equipment will address that concern and revise protocols accordingly. 

The ambulance district board reviewed several bids and opted to buy six GlideScope system intubation kits for $28,142 for every ambulance, each coming in a carrying case for two on each ambulance. The video capacity of the equipment enables the user to have a camera to see how to insert during rapid sequence intubation, which Compton said could be a life-threatening situation. 

Brown also presented the board with an option to buy a handheld TV unit that could visually bring up all the protocols involving any specific medical emergency while working a case. The equipment included options to enter a patient’s weight and would respond with all the medicine doses for that case. He said the equipment was initially developed for pediatrics. 

A staff member noted that the protocols developed by Dr. Brandt  were “written for the dumbest EMT in Springfield,” and could address any scenario. Compton said the protocols were “incredibly complicated, sometimes too much so.” 

Board members approved the camera system on a bid of $13,187.15 for three years, with a 3 percent increase annually, and a 5 percent annual rise after that. “This is about giving the right tools to the right person at the right time,” Compton said. 

The board also approved buying a new cot loading system from the Stryker company for the new ambulance due to arrive in June. Compton noted that since the district acquired the Stryker Power-LOAD systems, no employees have had a back injury. Stryker was the only bidder for a cost slightly over $84,000, including the maintenance plan. 

Annual report shared

For 2025, the annual report showed crews made 3,641 runs. That’s up 208 runs or 6 percent from the previous year. 

For the year, 16 percent of runs went to Cox Monett Hospital. The two Cox hospitals and Mercy in Springfield received 1,305 runs or 36 percent of patients. A total of 291 runs went to Freeman and Mercy hospitals in Joplin or 8 percent. Local nursing homes combined received only 5 percent of runs. 

Of the other local hospitals, 214 went to Mercy in Aurora and 112 to Mercy in Cassville. 

Calls coming from Monett totaled 2,853 or 78 percent of the total. The second highest number of calls came from Pierce City with 297, with Purdy close behind with 289. 

There were 380 patients or 10 percent refused care. A total of 14 patients in the year died prior to arrival, and 9 died after arrival.