Central EMS gears up for exclusivity, change to government agency
Posted on Sunday, November 2, 2008
Central Emergency Medical Service is growing its fleet of ambulances in preparation of becoming the area’s exclusive ambulance service.
Last week, the agency added two advanced lifesupport units and one basic life support unit in a buildup toward continuing its status as the sole emergency ambulance service while also becoming the exclusive ambulance for non-emergency transfers as well in Fayetteville and much of Washington County.
“ We use the ALS ambulances for emergencies that require paramedics, ” said Assistant Central EMS Chief Steve Harrison. “ The BLS units are for non-emergency transports. We now have 14 ALS ambulances, two BLS units and six wheel chair vans in our fleet. ”
Washington County and all of the cities not served by Springdale’s fire department-based ambulance service agreed last spring to an interlocal agreement that converts Central EMS from a private, not-for-profit operation into a governmental authority. It also gives that authority to make all ambulance runs, emergency and nonemergency, essentially preventing private services from draining away revenue by taking the more profitable transfers.
County officials who pursued the new arrangement believe it will result in a more financially sound future for local ambulance service.
“ Counties can’t do exclusivity by state law, but cities can, ” Gibson said. “ Part of the inter-local agreement was granting of exclusivity for non-emergency calls. We already have an exclusive clause for emergencies. What’s interesting is that counties can designate exclusivity for emergencies, but not for non-emergencies. This agreement gives us the best of both worlds. ”
Washington County Administrator John Gibson said the inter-local agreement for the county ambulance authority was signed between the county, and the cities of Fayetteville, Farmington, Prairie Grove, Elkins, Lincoln, West Fork, Winslow, Johnson, Goshen and Greenland. Though the agreement has not officially gone into effect, the Washington County Ambulance Authority is in place.
“ We’re going to the executive committee of the board next Wednesday and they’ll select additional board members, ” Gibson said. “ They can’t do a whole lot until Medicare approves all the permits, which can be a lengthy process. ”
Harrison said the agreement will not alter what people see when they need an ambulance.
“ Central EMS will continue to be the ambulance service that responds when you call 911, just like it has been for the last 28 years, ” he said.
The need for ambulance service in Washington County increases each year. On average, the agency answers about 38 calls per day.
In addition to dispatching its own ambulances, Central EMS dispatches 17 rural fire departments on fire and first responder calls, the Washington County Department of Emergency Management, Coroner’s Office, Fire Marshall and Search and Rescue and Tactical Response Team. All Central EMS communicators are certified both as emergency medical and emergency Fire dispatchers.
Gibson said the interlocal agreement will help the organization meet the area’s growing need for service.
“ There are some advantages that a service run by an authority or government agency has, ” Gibson said. “ For instance, government agencies can buy diesel and unleaded gas for less than anyone else because they don’t have to pay excise tax. They also have other buying power. Hopefully it will provide us a good revenue stream to reduce subsidies that Central EMS is asking for, resulting in better services and reduced cost to the taxpayers. ”
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