Members of the committee appointed to review ambulance services in Iola and Allen County asked for comprehensive analyses of each at the conclusion of their initial meeting Friday noon.
“We need an overview of each service, including financial numbers, to let all of us get a grasp” of what has occurred and how each operates, said Kent Thompson, in a run-up to the request for documentation.
The finale was somewhat like the meeting’s start, when County Counselor Alan Weber said members should consider history of the two services, but also balance care, costs and response time in whatever assumptions were made about how service could be improved for citizens.
“I think this review is the way to go,” he added, to “give a new perspective.”
Jeff Johnson, rural Elsmore resident and Iola banker, was elected chairman, partly because he has little personal history with events leading to a countywide service becoming two in 2008, when Iola began its own. Nelda Cuppy, retired teacher from Moran, was elected vice chair, and John McRae, a former Iola mayor, secretary.
Vada Aikins, Humboldt Council member, suggested in addition to collecting statistics that Iola and Allen County directors each give a proposal for countywide service and that a full airing of pros and cons of each service be made to committee members.
Any proposals for improvements may not come until after pertinent information and reports on services elsewhere, perhaps including some road trips, occur.
Thompson thought financial records should be for three years, to give a better comparison and that call volume, maybe from 911 records, would be necessary ingredients.
Bill Maness, a second former Iola mayor, suggested rebuttal — “maybe too strong a word” — when directors of the services stump for what they do and what they could do.
“I think we can figure out what is correct,” Sheriff Tom Williams injected. “I’d like to stay away from any challenges.”
Aikins proposed there “is no reason we can’t have two ambulances, but we need to talk about what is best and what it costs. I think that will be an important conversation.”
“And there may be a better way altogether,” in providing service to all in the county, Williams said.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER Dick Works, a resource person, confirmed that state Emergency Medical Services, at the county’s behest, did a study of local ambulance service in 2005, which took four months to complete and came with a recommendation that one service was better.
He noted that a little later the state EMS board certified Iola ambulances, paving the way for a separate service in Iola.
In response to a comment that another study by state EMS might be good, Works said: “They have to be politically correct. Don’t expect a definitive answer.”
Works also confirmed the $80,000 annual subsidy the county sends Iola’s way to support its ambulance service is “about what the 3 mills the county levies for EMS raises in Iola.” Iola’s valuation is $32.4 million, meaning a levy of 3 mills raises $97,200.
“Could that be looked at?” asked Aikins. “Yes,” said Works.
McRae wondered about staffing numbers for the two services.
Jason Nelson, its director, said the county had one type 1 ambulance, which meant a paramedic always was on board and it was equipped to fully meet what a paramedic could provide. All county ambulances — one each in Iola, Humboldt and Moran — had paramedics available, he added.
The county employs 18 paramedics and 14 emergency medical technicians, Nelson said.
Ron Conaway, Iola director, said paramedics or a registered nurse — “that’s me” — are on every shift at the fire department.
Iola has no licensed type 1 ambulance, Conaway said, because “there’s no advantage for service provided,” nor for grant or billing opportunities.
Works said having ambulances stationed at the county hospital would be detrimental, because it would negatively impact Medicare payments, including those that will help fund construction of a new hospital. He didn’t go into reasons for curtailment of Medicare payments with ambulance service.
THOMPSON noted ambulance services don’t generate profits.
“If they did the private sector would be getting in,” he said. “There’s income” but not at a for-profit level.
“How close to breaking even?,” asked McRae.
Nelson said the county’s income last year was $650,000, expenses $1.3 million. Conaway didn’t comment.
When conversation turned to whether Iola’s motivation for having ambulances was to keep a full-time fire department, Thompson’s comment was the Iola department was second to none.
“It’s a valuable resource to all of the county,” Williams added.
He also said committee members should look elsewhere to see how others provide ambulance service, which might lead to a new approach. He said countywide fire protection might be an avenue to explore in conjunction with ambulances.
Those, and other, tentacles of thought cropped up throughout the hour-long meeting.
“We need to educate ourselves,” McRae said, to the point that “I hope it becomes obvious what we need to do.”
Another meeting, when members will have information from the two services, will be at noon Feb. 15. The meetings are open to the public and are in the assembly room of the courthouse.
