CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — Habersham County Emergency Services (HCES) has earned Region 2 EMS Service of the Year. The award highlights the department’s rapid growth, innovative programs, and dedication to both patients and first responders.
Emergency Services Director Jeff Adams said the honor reflects the hard work of the entire department.
“This award is a reflection of the incredible dedication and passion of our entire team,” Adams said. “Every member of Habersham County Emergency Services plays a role in making our department one of the best in the region.”
Relatively new
HCES is a relatively new system in Georgia. In 2018, the county shifted from a hospital-based EMS to a unified fire and EMS department. At the time, there were 60 full-time employees. Today, the department has grown to 86 and responds to about 12,000 calls each year.
Crews transport patients to hospitals across northeast Georgia and Atlanta, including NGHS-Habersham, NGHS-Gainesville, Braselton, Scottish Rite, and Arthur M. Blank Hospital, which is part of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Innovative care
HCES is known for staying ahead of the curve. It joined Georgia’s pilot program for administering blood products in the field and continues to train for advanced procedures such as ventilator transport. These skills allow crews to provide lifesaving care before patients ever reach a hospital.
The department’s Community Paramedicine program is also a standout. Launched in 2016, it connects patients with follow-up care for conditions like stroke and heart failure. The program has won statewide and national awards for improving patient outcomes in rural communities.
Originally funded by the State Office of Rural Health, the program has expanded to support patients with stroke, STEMI, and congestive heart failure. In 2023, it received the Georgia County Excellence Award from ACCG and, in partnership with NGMC-Habersham, earned the Quality and Patient Safety Award from the Georgia Hospital Association.
Supporting first responders
The work doesn’t stop with patient care. HCES also looks after its own people. A regional Peer Support Group provides mental health resources for firefighters, EMTs, and dispatchers in Habersham and surrounding counties.
The department is also preparing for future threats. Staff members are leading efforts with the Region II Trauma Advisory Council to train responders for active assault situations. By 2026, the program aims to fully integrate EMS, fire, and law enforcement training.
Training the next generation
Education is central to HCES’s mission. With grant support, the department has launched a training facility that offers EMT and Advanced EMT certification courses. These classes are open to municipal fire departments as well, helping raise the standard of care across the region.
Adams added, “We are proud of how far we have come and even more excited about the future.”
From innovation in the field to training and regional collaboration, Habersham County Emergency Services is proving itself as a leader in public safety.
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