{"id":668,"date":"2025-05-16T07:02:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T07:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/austincountynewsonline.com\/hello\/?p=668"},"modified":"2025-11-22T07:16:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T07:16:27","slug":"austin-county-ems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/austincountynewsonline.com\/hello\/austin-county-ems\/","title":{"rendered":"Episode 23: Austin County EMS with Chief Walter Morrow and Assistant Chief Rhonda Ritchey"},"content":{"rendered":"

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May 16, 2025<\/h4>\n

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Episode 23: Austin County EMS with Chief Walter Morrow and Assistant Chief Rhonda Ritchey<\/h1>\n

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In this episode of Hello Austin County, we\u2019re joined by Chief Walter Morrow and Assistant Chief Rhonda Ritchey of Austin County EMS, who take us inside the world of rural emergency medical services and the people who keep it running 24\/7.<\/p>\n

Chief Morrow and Assistant Chief Ritchey shed light on what it takes to manage EMS operations across more than 650 square miles, balancing everything from high-acuity trauma calls to public education and volunteer coordination. They explain the layered structure of Austin County EMS, the challenges of covering such a wide area, and the critical role of partnerships with volunteer fire departments and local law enforcement.<\/p>\n

Listeners will hear how their team prepares for everything from house calls to major incidents, the growing role of technology and data in emergency response, and the ways they combat burnout in a high-stress profession. Through it all, their message is clear: every call matters, and every patient deserves to be treated like family.<\/p>\n

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\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f Host:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Shelley Stuessel-Brian<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Director of Operations, Austin County News Online<\/span>\u00a0& Co-Creator, <\/span>Hello Austin County<\/em><\/h3>\n

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Greg Stuessel<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Publisher, Executive Producer, Technical Director
Austin County News Online & Austin County Media<\/span><\/h3>\n

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\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f Guests:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Walter Morrow, Chief<\/h2>\n

Austin County EMS<\/h4>\n

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Rhonda Ritchey, Assistant <\/span>Chief<\/h2>\n

Austin County EMS<\/h4>\n

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\ud83c\udfa7 Episode Highlights<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n

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\u23f0 00:00<\/strong> – Meet Chief Walter Morrow and Assistant Chief Rhonda Ritchey enforcement
\u23f0 02:00 <\/strong>– EMS structure and Austin County\u2019s contract service model
\u23f0 04:30<\/strong> – Staffing, logistics, and the size of the coverage area
\u23f0 07:00<\/strong> – Public training: CPR classes, AED access, and education outreach
\u23f0 09:30<\/strong> – The EMS role in multi-agency emergency response
\u23f0 12:20<\/strong>– Planning for rare emergencies like school bus incidents
\u23f0 15:45<\/strong> – Mental health, compassion fatigue, and supporting the team
\u23f0 18:10<\/strong> – Using data to improve response times and service
\u23f0 21:00<\/strong> – The importance of treating every patient with dignity and care
\u23f0 24:30<\/strong> – Final reflections on what keeps them motivated<\/p>\n

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