By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

EagleMed is looking into possibly expanding its ground ambulance services to Ellis County.

At Monday’s Ellis County Commission meeting, representatives from the medical transport service went before the commission with a brief presentation, introducing the commission to the company and previewing the possibility of expanded service in Ellis County.

EagleMed, at the request of the Great Bend Regional Hospital, has an ambulance stationed in Great Bend. Mike Simmons, EagleMed director of medical affairs, said last month they had approximately 10 critical care transfers from HaysMed using their ambulance based in Great Bend.

“What we’d like to do is put a truck here to not only support that one but give you a truck right here on site so that they can do those transports without waiting for that transport time from Great Bend to Hays,” he said.

Simmons stressed the company is not coming into Ellis County looking to replace the county EMS, instead they are wanting to form a partnership. He said they would transfer patients the local EMS units cannot provide.

Robert Nolan, Base Critical Supervisor for EagleMed Ground Ambulance, said EagleMed has the equipment that Ellis County EMS would like to have but it does not make sense for them to have based on the county coverage area, whereas EagleMed serves the whole of central Kansas.

The service would not cost the city or the county anything, and Nolan said EagleMed’s transportation fees are comparable to Ellis County EMS, although their billing system is tier-based, so the price increases with services used.

Simmons said they are still in the very early stages and will meet with the local EMS department and create a plan before moving forward. It could take six to nine months to purchase equipment and hire staff if a plan is approved.

The commission instructed EMS and Emergency Management staff to meet with EagleMed and provide the commissioners with a report.

In other business, the county:

• Approved a contract with Secure Energy Consultant to purchase 75-percent of the natural gas the county is expected to purchase over the next two winters.

• Approved a ban on all electric smoking devices in all public buildings and at all access points to the buildings.

• The public building commission approved the purchase of kitchen equipment at the jail for $83,149. The PBC also approved the purchase of a washer and dryer for the jail for $16,470.