Valor EMS offers first report since securing 911 contract

PHOTO: Valor EMS executive director J.D. Windham, left, addresses members of the Clark County Quorum Court during a quarterly report at a Jan. 12, 2026, meeting. Windham is pictured with James Goodwin, director of operations for Valor EMS. | arkadelphian.com photo

By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com

From outsourcing dispatch services to outgrowing its original office space, the first three months of serving Clark County’s 911 urgent medical needs have been busy for Valor EMS.

The company’s owner gave a mandated quarterly report to members of the Clark County Quorum Court on Monday, Jan. 13, 2026. He also fielded questions from justices of the peace and county Judge Troy Tucker.

Valor, based in Arkadelphia, was awarded the 911 contract in September 2025 following a heated public battle with Pafford EMS, a corporate provider whose reach extends throughout Arkansas and several states. The Clark County contract marked Valor’s second win for a 911 contract, as the company had secured its footprint in neighboring Dallas County in the months leading up to the Clark County decision.

Since Valor started responding to Clark County’s emergency calls on Oct. 1, its ambulance crews have responded to 1,050 calls, said executive director J.D. Windham. Just under half of those calls, he said, were medical transports.

By early December, Valor began contracting its dispatch services through LifeNet of Hot Springs. Admitting that delays were a concern in relying on a third-party dispatcher, Windham said that concern has been put to rest as most calls, from the time they’re answered until the ambulance is en route, is under 60 seconds. The dispatchers, Windham added, aid in providing care via telephone until medics arrive.

Windham said his company aspired for a 9-minute response time in the Arkadelphia area, but has found that the 71923 zip code is a large geographic area. “We’re happy to report that we’re meeting the zip code of Arkadelphia in 9 minutes and 31 seconds,” Windham said. “The issue with that is … we’re only meeting our response time by 69%.” Windham hopes to eventually track calls by fire districts, as other providers do, in order to “dial in” response time statistics. That’s a decision that would be made by the county’s 911 Committee.

Windham reported that Valor has outgrown its original office space on North 10th Street, and is in the process of moving to 1520 Pine St., the former Aaron’s Rent to Own, next to Family Dollar. One highlight of the move will be the addition of a large training room for medical responders. 

He also reported that Valor’s membership program to supplement insurance costs is now available, with packages starting at $65 per year for individuals or $75 for households. More information on membership packages is available at Valor’s website or by calling their office.

Asked whether Valor was able to come to an agreement with Pafford on responding to calls in Amity — as Pafford’s presence in Pike County puts an ambulance station in nearby Glenwood — Windham yielded the floor to Justice Garry “BJ” Johns, who serves as Amity’s fire chief. 

“Everything is as good as it can be,” Johns said, adding that there have been “very few times” that Pafford has refused to cross the county line — and only then it’s because the call is deemed non-urgent.

Windham noted that Valor dispatches an ambulance regardless of where a call originates. Should another company’s ambulance commit to the call, only then will Valor return to the station.