Rural/Metro pulling ambulance services out of Central Indiana

The Arizona-based company, which has been serving the city as an ambulance provider since Feb. 1, 2007, cited six-figure losses as part of the reason for pulling out, Deckard said, following a conversation with Mark Lashley, who is the Rural/Metro Ambulance East Division senior vice president.

Deckard said he has a meeting set up to talk with Rural/Metro officials Wednesday. However, he called and spoke with Lashley Monday because employees of Rural/Metro and others were calling to tell him the ambulance company is leaving.

Lashley told Deckard that  the company will be exercising the clause in its contract to give 120 days notice that it is leaving. The contract, which is through 2016, was for $30,000 per year, he said.

Deckard said he was informed the company is meeting with all of its central Indiana customers Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to inform them of the closures. The company plans to continue service in southern Indiana.

The 120 days will begin Wednesday after the official meeting, Deckard said.

Options for ambulance coverage will be discussed at the Monday night Martinsville Common Council meeting, Deckard said.

Morgan County EMA is one option the city will seriously consider, he said.

Morgan County EMA Director Jeff Neal said he is open to talking with Deckard about serving the city, but his first concern is  how Rural/Metro's absence will impact care across the county.

Rural/Metro has paramedic service and EMA doesn't. The ambulance service's exit leaves southern Morgan County without a paramedic.

"Now, the closest medic service is Brown Township and this will run them short," Neal said. "Something has to be done."

Neal said he didn't propose adding staff or a paramedic service to EMA Monday during his budget hearing. However, he offered to come up with a proposal to do.

"It's something that could be done," Neal said. "I could maybe get a service up in 60 days, maybe."

Regardless of what he is instructed to do, Neal said has solution has to be found.

"Something is going to have to be done, whether it's private or a countywide situation," Neal said. "There's 120 days, but we don't want to wait until day 100.

"The city and county need to work together and come up with a resolution and go from there. It's going to take a while to get this put into place."