MEDIA RELEASE

 

April 16, 2018

For information, contact Owensboro Fire Department Fire Chief, Steve Mitchell at (270) 687-8405 or Daviess County Fire Department Fire Chief, Dwane Smeathers at (270) 685-8440.

CITY AND COUNTY TO CONSIDER NEW AMBULANCE AGREEMENT

 

The City of Owensboro and Daviess County Fiscal Court Commissions will consider an updated interlocal agreement regarding ambulance service, as well as, a new agreement with a private contractor.

 

After considerable research and study, both commissions agreed to retain the public-private arrangement for Emergency Medical Services throughout Daviess County. This two-tiered system with Fire Department First Response and Private Paramedic Ambulance service has worked well in our area and is expected to improve with the new agreement.

 

“All citizens deserve quality ambulance service – with this agreement, we’ve added to the quality public service our community is accustomed to,” said Judge Al Mattingly.

 

The current agreement will expire at midnight on June 30, 2018. The commissions will consider a new agreement with Procarent d/b/a Yellow Ambulance that would go into effect July 1, 2018 at 12:01 a.m. Procarent was chosen after an extensive request for proposal (RFP) and negotiation process. Although the new agreement will include a taxpayer subsidy, the cost is expected to be less than the subsidy a public owned service would have required.

 

Through the request for proposal (RFP) process and dedicated staff work, the taxpayer subsidy will be $60,000 annually.  It is the intent to have the best possible service for the citizens at the lowest cost possible.

 

Some highlights of the proposed agreement are as follows:

 

• Additional ambulances
• Improved field level communication between fire department and ambulance unites
• Improved training systems and performance standards
• Consideration for mass casualty and disaster situations
• Improved structure for proposed base rate increases
• Improved vehicle and equipment requirements

 

 

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