County begins exploring ambulance options

Bourbon County Commissioners are scurrying to find a replacement ambulance service after Mercy Hospital Fort Scott announced Monday it will close on Dec. 31.

On Wednesday, commissioners held a special meeting to discuss the direction they wish to take.

The meeting began with a 7-minute executive session to discuss information regarding a contract. After the session, commissioners voted to begin advertising immediately for bids for an ambulance service.

At the same time, commissioners agreed to also look at the feasibility of providing a county-owned ambulance service.

“We’ve already started the process with fact finding and financials,” Commission Chair Lynne Oharah said.

Bourbon County Economic Development Director Jody Hoener and County Clerk Kendell Mason have been tasked with learning about personnel needs as well as reimbursements for ambulance services.

Hoener has been employed with Mercy for about six years and currently retains a part-time position with Mercy. She said she has been talking with Mercy President Reta Baker about the ambulance service. Hoener said other counties contract services such as insurance coding.

Oharah said next week, they need to begin making a list of what needs to be done during this time of exploration.

County Counselor Justin Meeks said he attended the Fort Scott City Commission meeting Tuesday, when City Manager Dave Martin and Mayor Jolynne Mitchell “graciously” talked about the need for the city and county to work together.

The county’s contract with Mercy for ambulance service is $311,000 annually. The city provides infrastructure for the ambulance and its crew.

“The city does not have the relationship with the ambulance service that we thought,” Meeks said. “We’re learning a lot as we go. When something is the same as it has been forever, you don’t quite sometimes know how it works because it’s worked so well we haven’t had to get involved in the weeds.

“When it comes to the ambulance service, it’s on you all.”

“We know enough about the ER, that I think at this point, we’ll let what is being, being – what’s happening with that negotiation, and let that process take care of itself and if it handles the way we hope, and it is the best-case scenario, then this commission and city won’t have anything to worry about.”

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas announced Wednesday it will assume ownership of Mercy clinics in Fort Scott, Pleasanton and Arma beginning Jan. 1. Information from Mercy on Tuesday states 60 or 70 of Mercy’s 307 employees may be retained with the clinics.

The future of the emergency room is still unknown.

Oharah said Meeks received a letter dated Sept. 28 from Mercy regarding the EMS on Monday and commissioners received a copy of the letter Tuesday.

Meeks said 120 days after Sept. 28, Mercy will no longer be responsible for EMS.

Commissioners said many of the surrounding counties have their own ambulance service.

“The ambulance isn’t gong to be a money maker, but my understanding from Reta is, it at least breaks even, if not more, so it’s not going to cost the taxpayers anything,” Hoener said.

She said the start-up will be an expense and she said there is no substantial reimbursement for the ambulance.

Meeks said the county needs to request the financial information from Baker. He said there also was a donation made to purchase a new ambulance.

“You’re not going to have enough money to put in a certain fund to sustain long-term,” Hoener said.

“The only thing I’m looking for is the financials so we have a baseline,” Oharah said.

Meeks said he believes Mercy did all that could be done to find another health care provider to take over the hospital.

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