The Hancock County Board is looking at options including hiring a consultant to solve problems with ambulance service.
The county is under a “Plan of Correction” to fix a number of deficiencies. The county could be fined by the Illinois Department of Public Health if they are not corrected soon.
One of the biggest problems is that some crews are not doing a “rig check” to make sure their ambulances have all the supplies and gear they might need on a call.
Chairman David Walker says personality and procedural conflicts between the EMTs and ambulance service director have prevented progress in the last two years.
He says, “We gave them a good chance to get things resolved and I don't know if it's salvageable or not with the current players.”
The board heard a presentation from Advanced Medical Transport. The Peoria-based not-for-profit has offered to consult with the county for up to six months at a cost of $5,500 per week.
Walker says the advice would help but he thinks the cost is a bit high. He is willing to look at other options.
Ambulance Service Director Perry Cameron feels the consultant is not necessary, particularly as the money could be spent to on the ambulance service.
He says, “I feel they (deficiencies) can be solved but it takes everyone working as a team to solve it.”
Cameron says many of the problems have been addressed already.
Walker and Cameron agree that the convoluted chain of command makes solutions difficult to implement. There are a number of boards and committees involved in administering the ambulances based in Carthage and Warsaw. Nauvoo and LaHarpe have their own ambulance districts that operate independently of the county.
The board tabled the proposal. It will reconsider it and other options at a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. June 13.