News
Critical Condition in Emergency Response
Private-ambulance official Marc Pickard is clearly frustrated as he explains why a Lenoir County man who suffered a stroke last week did not receive faster medical attention. Even though Pickard's company, Convalescent Transport, sits across the street from the stroke victim’s house, county law prevented its ambulance from responding. Instead, the man had to wait for a county ambulance. This Monday he died. Now Pickard worries that Hurricane Isabel could further expose Lenoir County’s faltering EMS system to pressure — while allowing his private firm to provide emergency service would help.