Staff writer
After more than a year of wrangling between the county ambulance department and St. Luke Hospital, a written agreement has been forged that sets most of the issues to rest.
Before the agreement is formally approved by county commissioners, county counsel Brad Jantz will make tweaks to its language.
Under its terms, the county will transfer St. Luke patients to and from Hillsboro Community Hospital when requested, as long as schedules allow.
St. Luke will pay $300 for each round trip and an additional $15 for each mile that a patient is in the ambulance.
County ambulance attendants also will come to St. Luke to assist with patients when needed. Services will include helping hospital personnel with lifting patients, imposing patient restraints, and starting patient IVs.
The ambulance service has the right to decline to provide services based on availability of personnel or high call volume.
For those services, St. Luke will pay $250 for each call and $250 an hour for each additional hour on site. The hospital also will reimburse the county for any medications and supplies provided.
Interim ambulance service director Chuck Kenney said HCH chief executive Mark Rooker had agreed to the same terms and as soon as commissioners formally approve an agreement with St. Luke, an identical agreement will be drawn up with HCH.