What is an Emergency Services District (ESD)?

An ESD is a local government agency created by a vote of the public to provide emergency services. There are two types of ESDs: one is for fire protection and the other is for emergency medical services, also known as mobile healthcare. There are more than 310 ESDs in Texas, 32 of which are in Harris County. The governing statute for an ESD is Chapter 775 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. An ESD collects taxes based on appraisals of real and personal property.

Mobile Healthcare in Tomball

Northwest Rural Emergency Medical Services Association was formed in 1980 by community volunteers as a member-managed nonprofit organization to fill a gap in ambulance coverage for Tomball and areas of Northwest Harris County. The organization initially relied primarily on donations to operate. In the mid-1990’s, Northwest Rural EMS began subsidizing operations through medical billing and program fees.

In 2003, voters in the community authorized the creation of County ESD 8 to provide funding and oversight authority for mobile healthcare in the Tomball area. ESD 8 contracted with Northwest Rural EMS, later known as Northwest Community Health, to provide services. In 2022, Northwest Community Health was integrated into ESD 8 through mutual collaboration between the District and nonprofit Boards, with ESD 8 assuming direct operation of the District’s mobile healthcare system in 2022. Today, Harris County ESD 8 dba Northwest Community Health continues to provide first-class mobile healthcare, transportation, and medical education to the community.

Mobile Healthcare Operations

Northwest Community Health provides mobile healthcare services within Harris County Emergency Services District No. 8. Day-to-day operations are managed by a Paramedic Supervisor with clinical and operational oversight of the system. Each of the agency’s mobile intensive care units are managed by an “In-Charge” Paramedic, who has undergone rigorous training and credentialing to function independently within the clinical operating guidelines established by Medical Director Scott Wiesenborn. In-Charge Paramedics are partnered with an Attendant who is certified at the Emergency Medical Technician, Advanced EMT, or Paramedic level and responsible for the operation of the ambulance and providing patient care alongside the In-Charge Paramedic. All medical staff undergo ongoing professional development, continuing education, and credentialing to ensure the highest quality of clinical care.

Deployment

Northwest Community Health serves approximately 32 square miles of Harris County, Texas, in the Tomball area. The estimated population of the service area in 2020 was 22,000 with projected growth of 50% by 2030. Northwest also serves a large commuter population along State Highway 249 - Tomball Toll Road and State Highway 99 - Grand Parkway, as well as thousands of visitors to Tomball’s festivals and events.

The agency currently staff's four Mobile Intensive Care Units with capacity to staff up to seven ambulances during mass-gathering events and disasters. Most of the agency’s operations are based at the ESD 8 facility in central Tomball. Ambulances are also strategically positioned at satellite stations through our partnership with Tomball Fire Department.

Harris County ESD 8 - Northwest Community Health Station 1
29530 Quinn Road, Tomball, TX 77375

Harris County ESD 15 - Tomball Fire Department Station 4
10333 Mahaffey Road, Tomball, TX 77375

Harris County ESD 15 - Tomball Fire Department Station 5
19900 Telge Road, Tomball, TX 77377

District Commissioners and Executive

  • Marcia Moore-Swinehart

    President
    Elected, 2024-2028

  • John Dillon

    Vice President
    Elected, 2022-2026

  • David Pace

    Secretary
    Elected, 2022-2026

  • David Kibler

    Treasurer
    Elected, 2024-2028

  • Scott Hallmark

    Elected
    2024-2028

  • Brian Bayani

    District Executive Director