County in planning phase for ambulance service

Bourbon County officials said Tuesday they have moved beyond the fact-finding stage and now are in the planning phase of retaining an ambulance service.

On Oct. 1, Mercy announced it would close Mercy Hospital Fort Scott on Dec. 31, which means the county is now responsible for providing an ambulance service to its citizens.

Since then, Bourbon County Economic Development Director Jody Hoener, County Counselor Justin Meeks and Third District Commission Nick Ruhl have been researching options for an ambulance service. They said Tuesday they have been working with the city of Fort Scott about the issue.

“There is an active, ongoing relationship that’s occurring to help with our future health care needs here in Bourbon County,” Meeks said. “The city has been beyond helpful in terms of helping us with our EMS service that we’re responsible for at the county level.”

Hoener said she has met with representatives from Crawford and Allen counties and people in Kansas City who started an ambulance company.

“Just so I can get some type of knowledge base on the operations of an ambulance and what all it’s going to take,” Hoener said.

She said there was a “really good” meeting with the city Monday.

“We decided it would more likely be in the best interest of Bourbon County if we go ahead and work on an ambulance situation together versus just the county going outside or doing it on our own,” Hoener said.

She said the city has the infrastructure in place and Meeks has been told Mercy Hospital Fort Scott would give the county its four ambulances and equipment.

Later, Ruhl said a letter of intent from Mercy, which will include the stipulation the ambulances remain in the county, is being written and should be ready for Tuesday’s meeting.

Hoener said she will meet with Assistant Fire Chief Dave Bruner, who is the point person for the city to discuss how the ambulance service would be structured. She said Fire Chief Paul Ballou also is working with them.

“It’s not completely done, there’s nothing in writing, there’s no ink that’s dried,” Meeks said. “This is preliminary discussions, but we are actively, openly working now with the city to work out what our two entities can do as a Bourbon County entity to form an EMS service that will be beneficial to our fine citizens.”

He said if everything goes well, everything will be finalized “fairly quickly.”

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