06/05/2026
“Change” has become the norm for the Coffeyville Regional Medical Center EMS Department through several momentous, positive efforts in 2026.
New ambulance
The Coffeyville Regional Medical Center EMS Department received a 2025 Ford 550 XLT SuperDuty carrying a Demers ambulance box that is outfitted with the most advanced intensive care equipment in the CRMC fleet.
The new Deemers ambulance is equipped with a powerload lift system that raises the gurney and patient into the ambulance. Previously, paramedics and EMTs had to lift the cot and patient themselves, causing strain because of the combined weight and the usual angle of entry into the ambulance.
The new ambulance replaces a 2010 model that had 250,000 engine miles and was prone to frequent breakdowns.
It is the third ambulance in the CRMC fleet necessary to handle the volume of emergency calls in the CRMC EMS area and to transfer patients to larger hospitals.
The Demers model ambulance was manufactured at Pinnacle Emergency Vehicles in Centeron, Ark. CRMC ordered the ambulance two years ago but only received it in May due to the long list of orders as well as the advanced level of equipment and furnishings that is required in a mobile intensive care unit.
The new ambulance cost about $386,000, which was made possible through the CRMC Foundation. Using donations generated from Kansas income tax credits, a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development, and a grant through Frontier Farm Credit, the new ambulance was purchased without utilizing any taxpayer dollars or CRMC’s operational revenue.
The CRMC Foundation has also plans to raise funds for a new transport ambulance, which will be used to ship stabilized patients to regional medical centers for advanced levels of care, said Amy Taylor, CRMC Foundation director.
The estimated cost to acquire a transport vehicle is about $210,000.
The reason CRMC is seeking a transport-only vehicle is because the EMS department transfers about 325 patients a year to regional hospitals. A dedicated transport vehicle would reduce the amount of miles and maintenance that have accumulated on other advanced-level ambulance vehicles at CRMC.
CRMC’s ambulance area encompasses 434 square miles in southern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma.
In 2025, the EMS department responded to 2,646 emergency calls in the CRMC EMS service area.
New leader
A familiar face has taken the helm of leadership within the EMS department. With the recent retirement of EMS director Jim Wilhelms, Casey Goff, who has been with CRMC since 2009, has taken over the top administrative position of the department.
Goff has most recently served as paramedic supervisor and EMS training officer.
He holds an associate of applied science degree in paramedicine from Coffeyville Community College and maintains numerous advanced certifications, including Critical Care Paramedic and instructor certifications in CPR, ACLS, and PALS.
Goff is highly involved in EMS education and regional emergency medical services leadership throughout southeast Kansas.
Goff had ample mentorship through Wilhelms’ tenure at CRMC. Wilhelms retired after having been a paramedic for 36 years.
EMS station plans
In mid-2026, Coffeyville Regional Medical Center is continuing its plans to build a new 5,500 square feet EMS facility immediately west of the CRMC main entrance.
Plans for a $2.7 million station were announced in fall 2025. Construction is expected to begin later in 2026 once New Market tax credits are finalized through a local finance lender.
Besides utilizing tax credits, CRMC Foundation will leverage grants and private donations in the funding mix. The CRMC Foundation will roll out a capital campaign in the fall months to raise money for the new facility.
The new EMS station will replace the department’s current quarters, now located on the east side of the CRMC facility.
The current station does not have bays long enough to hold the newest ambulance or future vehicles.
Additionally, the current quarters, which were constructed in the late 1970s, do not have assigned areas for men and women employees.
The current quarters is not made for today’s equipment, vehicles and employee safety, said Taylor.
“A new facility will improve the long-term care and quality of vehicles and medical equipment, as well as increase employee morale,” Taylor said. “In an emergency situation, a patient expects the very best of life-saving equipment, vehicles and employees to render the aid.
The construction of a new EMS station is part of CRMC’s overall effort to create a more efficient, safe and modern healthcare environment, Taylor said.
For more information about the CRMC Foundation, contact Amy Taylor at (620) 252-1659.
