Knoxville Fire/EMS recently received its critical care endorsement from the State of Iowa. Battalion Chief Justin Smith says this means Knoxville can provide the highest level of care in transporting patients to hospitals.

“We advanced our level of service from a paramedic service, which is an advanced life support service, to a critical care paramedic service. If we have transfers from hospitals, and if patients need a little more care than what a paramedic provides, now we’re capable here in Knoxville to transport those patients.”

Certified individuals took an extra course to gain the endorsement. Nine members of the department have the endorsement, with at least one assigned to each shift, meaning critical care will be available at all times.