Copyright 2006 Chattanooga Publishing Company
By CLIFF HIGHTOWER
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
DAYTON, Tenn. — A Knoxville-based ambulance service announced it is leaving Rhea County six months after it received approval to operate countywide.
“The market was not supporting two ambulance services being there,” said Ronnie Patterson, general manager of Professional Medical Transport. “We were continuing to have financial losses.”
Mr. Patterson said an ambulance station based in Spring City has been closed. Professional Medical Transport, or Pro-Med EMS, will continue to operate nonemergency calls for existing customers, he said.
He said employees working in Rhea County have been offered jobs in Knoxville.
In December, Rhea County commissioners approved letting Pro-Med EMS operate countywide. It shared the county with Rhea Emergency Medical Services, another private ambulance service that has been in Rhea County for more than 30 years.
County Executive Billy Ray Patton said Tuesday the county would not advertise for another ambulance service.
“We will ask Rhea County Emergency Medical Services to increase their visibility on the north end of the county,” Mr. Patton said.
Officials with Rhea EMS could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Two weeks ago, county commissioners asked the 911 Board and Central Communications Committee to establish guidelines for the two ambulance services. Tom Davis, chairman of the ambulance committee, said talks would continue.
He echoed Mr. Patton’s statement that the county would not shop for a second ambulance provider.
“We weren’t looking for them when Pro-Med came,” Mr. Davis said. “We’re open if an ambulance service comes in and wants to set up service.”
The 911 Board and Central Communications Committee could bring new ambulance service guidelines to the County Commission at its June 20 meeting, Mr. Davis said.
“I think the Pro-Med experience points out some things we need to look at,” he said.