The city of Shallowater has recently turned over Emergency Services over to University Medical Center in Lubbock.

A few years ago, Slaton and Abernathy made the same transition, and some citizens worried that it would adversely affect 911 response times. Mike Lamberson, the city manager for Slaton, says that contracting UMC for EMS is more efficient and has saved the city more than $250,000.

KAMC News reports that many small cities have basic responders, but not many skilled paramedics that are trained at large hospitals. Contracting with EMS will allows Shallowater to have skilled first responders within city limits, instead of miles away in Lubbock.

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