Ambulance deal draws concerns

What started as the Escambia County (Ala.) Health Care Authority's goal to come up with a solution to provide ambulance service to the Flomaton area is still on that tract in the short term, but proposals are being studied to eye proposals for the Brewton area and possibly county wide as well.

For many years, the Flomaton area has been served by the EMS in Escambia County, Fla., which has ambulances stationed in Century. About a year ago, Escambia County, Fla., EMS, said it would no longer serve the Flomaton area but agreed not to pull out until a solution could be obtained.

Although no decisions have been finalized, a capacity crowd filled the Escambia County (Ala.) Commission chambers Monday morning with concerns over what direction the county's health care authority was heading.

Sonny Evans read a letter to the commission written by his wife Jackie Hinote Evans, voicing concerns regarding the ambulance coverage for the Flomaton area.

"Several months ago the Escambia County Health Care Authority sent out a request for proposal (RFP) to once again provide 24-7 ambulance service for the city of Flomaton and surrounding areas," the letter read.

It noted the RFP clearly stated the vendor must provide continuous 24-7 coverage to the Flomaton area.

"Several weeks ago the Health Care Authority awarded the bid to Lifeguard ambulance service," the letter read. "My concern is the new terms of this agreement. Instead of 24-7 coverage, that is clearly defined in the RFP, the Health Care Authority has elected to move forward with only 12-hour coverage, better known as 'peak coverage hours'. I have been a nurse and a paramedic for more than 35 years and from my experience in emergency medicine, I have learned you can never predict 'peak hours'. Just imagine what the outcome would be if your loved ones were involved in a serious accident, had a heart attack, or a child choked while at daycare or school during off peak hours. Are you willing to wait 20 minutes for service to come from Brewton, Atmore or Jay? In cases above, 20 minutes is likely not quick enough!"

The letter also claims Lifeguard's bid for the service was 60 percent higher than the other two bids submitted.

"It is also my understanding that the Health Care Authority is now moving forward with an acquisition between (D.W.) McMillan (Memorial Hospital) ambulance service and Lifeguard," the letter read.

Mrs. Evans then asked in the letter if competitive bid laws were followed and why the citizens of the county are paying more for half the service.

"In closing, it is my request that the county commission please investigate what has recently transpired between the Escambia County Health Care Authority and Lifeguard ambulance service and work to provide high quality 24-7 coverage to the Flomaton area in the most cost-effective manner."

County Commission Chairman Raymond Wiggins said he had received several telephone calls and said he understood there was a major concern. However, he said the commission did not have jurisdiction over the health care authority other than appointing its board members.

Commissioner David Stokes agreed that the only thing the commission did was to appoint the board members and suggested that they set up a meeting with the health care authority.

At the meeting Monday were representatives from the Brewton Fire Department, McCall Fire Department, Appleton Fire Department and D.W. McMillan ambulance service.

"Coverage concerns everybody," Stokes said. "My advice is to get with the health care authority. I'm not trying to pass the buck, but that's why we appoint the board."

Commissioner Larry White said he was asked to serve on a task force to work out 24-7 service in Flomaton. He noted the committee has no authority other than to make recommendations to the health care authority.

He said the agreement was to enter a 90-day agreement with Lifeguard to serve Flomaton and possibly expand the agreement to include Brewton at a later date.

The issue with Brewton firemen was they know what they have with the McMillan service but don't know what to expect with a new company. He said the McMillan ambulance provides good service, but there have been times when both ambulances were busy and a cardiac arrest patient had to be transported in the back of a fire truck.

Kevin Smith, with ASAP EMS, which submitted a bid to the health care authority, said sometimes two trucks aren't enough and sometimes five trucks aren't enough.

"Our proposal was in Flomaton with the possibility of expanding to Brewton," Smith said. "Our concern was 24-hour service in Flomaton. We don't want to step on any toes at D.W. McMillan but if the health care authority wants to get out of ambulance service, we'd look at it."

Stokes said as long has he's been on the commission he's never heard a complaint about the McMillan ambulance service.

"I don't know if they've signed a 90-day agreement with Lifeguard," Commissioner White said. "There's nothing concrete at this time."

Commissioners again suggested setting up a meeting with the health care authority and said it would provide contact information for each member. The current health care authority includes Ida Ruth Harrell of Flomaton, Bo Brantley of Flomaton, Sharon Davidson of Brewton, Nancy M. Lowery of Atmore, the Rev. Alphonzia Williams of Atmore, Keith Horton of East Brewton, Alexis Maloy of East Brewton, Don Ward of Brewton, and Deborah Rowell of Atmore.

Chris Griffin, administrator at D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital, said this week that no contracts with Lifeguard had been signed.

He said the discussions began when Escambia County, Fla., said it would be ending its contract to provide ambulance service to the Flomaton area.

"The health care authority started looking," Griffin said. "We formed a committee and looked at an RFP."

Griffin said while the primary concern was the Flomaton area, the health care authority agreed to accept alternative scenarios that would best serve the citizens of the county.

He said the request for proposals included providing 24-7 service to Flomaton as well as alternative proposals.

In addition to ASAP and Lifeguard, Atmore Ambulance submitted a proposal.

"Two of them wanted to look at alternatives to help the entire county," Griffin said. "Interest got heightened. We wanted to look at short term and long term and could we do that and save money."

He said the committee felt like Lifeguard was best for the larger picture because they already serve Santa Rosa and Baldwin counties, which border Escambia County, Ala.

"We need a short term solution in Flomaton," Griffin said. "Florida has said they won't leave us hanging, but we need something in place."

Griffin said that while the proposal is to have an ambulance in Flomaton 12-hours a day, Lifeguard also has mutual aid out of Jay and Baldwin County.

"The 90-day agreement in Flomaton will give us time to work out another agreement," Griffin said. "It's a potential change."

Griffin said if plans develop to have Lifeguard move into Brewton it's his expectation that the employees with the McMillan ambulance service will simply go to work with a different company.

He noted Lifeguard also provides air transport.

"The first thing is to get a short-term arrangement in Flomaton," Griffin said. "Then the goal is to have the best ambulance service and the best price for the entire county."