COVID-19 Response | LifeNet EMS Updates

Please visit the “Symptoms & Testing” page on the CDC website.

On this page you’ll find their “Coronavirus Self Checker” along with information on the symptoms of COVID-19 and testing information.

No. You should only call an ambulance to take you to the emergency department if you are experiencing an emergency. This will help limit the spread of the virus in our community, as well as allow our EMS system and area emergency departments to care for patients with the most critical needs.  If you believe that you may have been exposed to the virus, or are concerned about your symptoms, first call your primary care provider and follow their instructions. Most patients diagnosed with COVID-19 experience flu like symptoms, do not need hospitalization, and can manage their care at home. 

If you are having complications breathing that you deem to be emergent and need transport by ambulance, you should call 9-1-1.  It is important that you notify the 9-1-1 dispatchers of all your symptoms, including that you believe you’ve been exposed to COVID-19.  You should also notify dispatchers if you have tested positive for COVID-19 recently and now need assistance going to an emergency department because your symptoms have worsened.  This will allow our EMS crews and the local emergency departments to properly prepare and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others in the community while taking care of you.  

If it is not critical for you to go to the hospital with your family member, you should stay home and let them go alone.  This will limit your chances of being exposed to COVID-19 and help prevent the spread of the virus in our community. 

You should go with your family member if: 
1. You are the primary caregiver for a minor (a person under the age of 18)
2. You are the primary caregiver for an adult who cannot think or speak for themselves due to dementia, the illness causing transport, or other underlying reason.

You should not go with your family member if: 
1. You have flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, or trouble breathing
2. You have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19

Hospital Visitation Changes
Please be advised that many hospitals are limiting the number of caregivers or visitors allowed in patient care areas and in waiting areas due to COVID-19.  It is recommended you call the hospital prior to coming to ensure you will be able to be with your family member if it is not critical you be there as part of their patient care team. 

• Baptist Health (Malvern)
• CHI St. Vincent (Hot Springs)
• CHRISTUS St. Michael (Texarkana, Atlanta)
• National Park Medical Center (Hot Springs)
• Stillwater Medical Center (Stillwater)
• Texoma Medical Center (Denison)
• Wadley Regional Medical Center (Texarkana)
• Wilson Regional Medical Center (Sherman)

Yes.

LifeNet will only allow one guardian to accompany a minor or a developmentally disabled person in the ambulance during transport.

For all other persons being transported, regardless of illness, LifeNet will no longer allow a person to accompany the patient in the ambulance.

This is to reduce the risk of passengers catching COVID-19 and to limit the possibility of spreading the virus in our community.

It’s important to know that many area hospitals are limiting visitors into the emergency room.  See the previous question on this page for more information on how you can reach out to the hospital we are transporting your loved one to and determine if you can be with the patient at this time.  This will help you best make the decision on if you should try and seek an alternate method of transportation to the hospital.

You should never attempt to follow an ambulance and violate traffic rules like driving over the speed limit or running traffic lights.  If you decide not to heed the advice given to you by EMS professionals and you decide to drive yourself to the hospital to be with your family member or loved one, always drive at a safe speed and park in the lot assigned for emergency room visitors at the hospital.   

To ensure the safety of our staff and help prevent the spread of COVID-19, LifeNet office staff are working remotely and still available to answer any questions you have related to your bills for ambulance transport.

Please call (903) 832-8531 or (800) 832-6395 for any questions you have related to employment.

You can also click here to view our current job openings, apply online, or update your application.

To ensure the safety of our staff and help prevent the spread of COVID-19, most LifeNet office staff are working remotely from their homes, but they are still available to answer any questions you have related to your bills for ambulance transport.  Our billing office in Texarkana is open weekdays 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for those who wish to handle billing related issues in-person.

Please call (903) 832-8531 or (800) 832-6395 for any questions you have related to ambulance bills.

You can also click here to pay your bill online or you can mail your payment to 6225 St. Michael Drive, Texarakna, TX 75503.

To ensure the safety of our staff and help prevent the spread of COVID-19, most LifeNet office staff are working remotely from their homes, but they are still available to answer any questions you have related to your bills for ambulance transport.  Our billing office in Texarkana is open weekdays 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for those who wish to handle billing related issues in-person.

Please call (903) 832-8531 or (800) 832-6395 for any questions you have related to memberships.

You can also click here to purchase a membership online, or you can mail your renewal payment to 6225 St. Michael Drive, Texarakna, TX 75503.

In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, LifeNet has cancelled all PR related events currently on our calendar.

At this point in time, we are not accepting invitations for community outreach or educational opportunities.

Please call 903-556-0301 or email tsbell@lifenetems.org for more information.

If your event is scheduled for later this summer or fall, or if you are flexible with when we can provide one of our free community outreach programs to your group or organization, please let us know.  We will contact you when we resume community outreach initiatives again.

To ensure the safety of our staff and help prevent the spread of COVID-19, LifeNet has cancelled all landing zone and aircraft recovery classes on our calendar currently for 2020.  We will reevaluate this decision later this spring.

Please call 903-556-0301 or email tsbell@lifenetems.org to be put on a waiting list for one of the classes.  We will reach back out to you when we begin scheduling these educational opportunities again in the future.