WHITED SEEKS LEVY SUPPORT FOR AMBULANCE SERVICE

(01/29/2014)
MHHS PRESS RELEASE - CEO Steve Whited

Minnie Hamilton Health System is honored and proud to serve the citizens of Calhoun County.

We strive to always provide the highest quality of care, regardless of your health care needs.

In April of 2013, we were asked to support the EMS system in the county by providing emergency medical responses to those in need.

By May 1, 2013, we were the sole operator of ambulance services within the county. Since that time, our EMS department has grown and improved with each passing month.

Ambulance services are not a particularly profitable area of health care. But, the hospital simply would not sit back and allow any citizen to worry or wonder what would happen to their loved one when they dialed 911.

The ambulance service provided by Minnie Hamilton Health System has worked very hard to meet the needs of the public and support the needs of the hospital.

As a result, we set out in May of 2013 to be a recognizable part of the communities we serve.

Minnie Hamilton EMS has created jobs for approximately 15 employees. Two ambulance stations have been strategically located within the county to provide more rapid responses to the community at large.

By the end of the summer, two brand new, top of the line ambulances were purchased and equipped for use on ambulance calls. Relationships with other emergency responders, such as police and fire departments, have been built in order to seamlessly meet the needs of the citizens.

Accountability for emergency ambulance operations and actions has been restored to the County Commission so that the elected voices of the people can rest assured that we are performing our job well.

As a result, the ambulance coverage in this county and rapid access to emergency medical care has drastically improved over the past several months.

In order to see continued growth and successful operation, we need the confidence and support of the citizens we serve.

That is why the upcoming Levy vote on February 1, 2014 is so important to our operations.

Levy money supports the delivery of emergency medical care to the citizens and provides revenue for EMS to invest back into the equipment, operations, and personnel.

We have made great strides in less than one year of service as the emergency medical service responders for the county.

Continued growth and stability are truly dependent on resources such as the upcoming Levy vote and the financial support that it provides.

On February 1, please consider what the safety of your friends, neighbors, and family is worth and vote to support the Levy so that we can provide each citizen with the care delivery that they deserve in their time of need. -Steve Whited, CEO Minnie Hamilton Health System