LAWRENCE COUNTY - OCTOBER 18, 2022 - The Lawrence County 911 Board is recommending IU Lifeline Ambulance Service for an ambulance contract for Lawrence County.
The term of the contract will be from January 1, 2023, to January 1, 2024.
File photo
Mike O Brien, Seals Ambulance Service and Kelly Mullis, IU Lifeline Ambulance service abstained from voting on the recommendation, this morning.
The Lawrence County 911 Board went with the second option from IU Lifeline Ambulance Service to provide 1 Advanced Life Support Ambulance, 2 Basic Life Support Ambulances and 1 ALS Response vehicle.
Mullis, told the 911 board the hospital itself will also have a dedicated ambulance to provide inter-facility transfers. Mullis says IU Lifeline is realigning its EMS system in Monroe County to better serve that area also.
" We have been working on providing a dedicated ambulance service for a very long time. However, we have hit some roadblocks along the way, but this process just did not start within the last 30 days," said Valarie Luchuaer, Lawrence County Emergency Managment Director.
Lawrence County Commissioner Dustin Gabhart and Lawrence County Emergency Management Director Valarie Luchuaer sought out bids among three ambulance providers.
The three ambulance providers included AMR who did not submit a final proposal, IU Lifeline Ambulance Service and Seals Ambulance Service. Each service was offered the garage located in the Dunn Plaza off Mitchell Road provided by the county.
With the recommendation of the Lawrence County 911 board, the proposal will then go to the Lawrence County Commissioners for their vote next Tuesday.
Once the Lawrence County Commissioners approve the recommendation this will allow Valarie Luchuear to enter into negations with IU Lifeline Ambulance Service.
Once the negotiations are complete a final vote of the Lawrence County 911 Board and Lawrence County Commissioners will be taken.
AMBULANCE CONTRACT PROPOSALS
IU LIFELINE
2 Advanced Life Support Ambulances - 1 Basic Life Support Ambulance - Total cost $180,000
1 Advance Life Support Ambulance - 2 Basic Life Support Ambulance - 1 Advance Life Support Squad - Total cost $400,000
2 Advance Life Support Ambulances - 2 Basic Life Support Ambulances - Total cost $800,000
SEALS AMBULANCE SERVICE
2 Advanced Life Support Ambulances - 1 Basic Life Support Ambulance - Total cost $725,000
2 Advance Life Support Ambulances - 1 Basic Life Support Ambulance - 1 Advance Life Support Squad - Total cost $ 1,125,000
2 Advance Life Support Ambulances - 2 Advanced Life Support Ambulances - Total cost $ 1,375,000
" This contract is for the county as a whole at this time, which includes coverage for the City of Bedford, City of Mitchell, and Town of Oolitic. As time progresses, we will see if the other communities will partner in providing ambulance coverage," said Dustin Gabhart.
The lack of ambulance coverage has been an ongoing issue for several years, and with the closure of St. Vincent Dunn Hospital, ambulance coverage was even more imperative.
Shawswick Township Trustee Millard Jones, told the 911 board the township that their ambulance service will be up and running by January 1st.
Shawswick Township and Guthrie Township created a fire territory to address fire and ambulance coverage for its residents.
Other ambulance issues will be addressed in the future such as the numerous calls for lift assists which takes ambulances out of service. Volunteer fire departments have been overwhelmed with EMS calls during the COVID pandemic and with lift assistance calls.
For breaking news, news and information subscribe to lczephyr.org or follow us on Facebook.
ADVERTISEMENT
