Ambulance service still not meeting contract
Polk County commissioners heard a promise last week that CareMed plans to live up to its contract to provide ambulance service to the county within two weeks – maybe.
Ambulance service representatives addressed their current situation during a committee meeting and again during the regular Polk County Commission meeting Thursday, January 21, at the courthouse in Benton.
During a meeting of the commission’s ambulance committee, CareMed’s Stan Alford said, “The most of the time, we’re there now,” in terms of living up to the contract.
The contract calls for an ambulance to be stationed on each side of the county 24/7 and another on each side 12 hours a day.
Commissioner John Hoyt Pippenger responded, “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.”
Pippenger then addressed concerns he heard regarding CareMed ambulances not carrying the proper pain medicines or the equipment needed to initubate a patient.
Alford, and Chris Boggs who oversees the Polk County operation, assured commissioners ambulances have what they need.
A letter from “a concerned citizen” was passed out by County Executive Robby Hatcher.
That letter, whose specifics were not discussed in open session, warned the commission of possible liability to the county because they are allowing the
ambulance service to not meet the terms of the contract.
Commissioners sent the letter to the county attorney for review.
Alford said new employees have been hired, and the service should be at full staff “without fail starting next week.”
He also said two new ambulances have arrived.
However, when questioned by Pippenger, it was admitted those two units are not state certified, but the commissioners were assured they would be within the next two weeks.
CareMed’s David Grayson told commissioners that four new cardiac monitors had been ordered to stock Polk County’s ambulances. It was then when commissioners learned the service had been using old cardiac monitors. Grayson said, CareMed “just had to have something.”
Later, in the commission’s regular meeting, when Pippenger was updating the full board on the committee meeting, he stated CareMed would be meeting contract terms within the next 14 days. To that comment, CareMed representatives quickly echoed from the audience, “should be.”
CareMed was awarded the ambulance service contract in October 2020 and took over September 1. The county pays $60,000 a month for the service.