By Kelly Jackson
The Chattanooga Times Free Press
DALTON, Ga. — Whitfield County wants to see if changing 911 ambulance service providers could save taxpayer money.
Emergency Services director Jeffrey Putnam said the county has contracted with Hamilton Medical EMS of Hamilton Health Care Systems for 22 years.
The county has drafted a request for proposals to see if another contractor might provide satisfactory service at a lower price. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for June 8, and proposals are due June 24.
“It is no reflection on Whitfield EMS, but the potential for savings is great -- estimated at $150,000 a year,” county Finance Director Ron Hale said in an e-mail. “We just want to evaluate our options and make sure we are doing the right thing.”
Mr. Putnam said the current contract ends this month. The county pays more than $600,000 per year for service and buys one ambulance a year at a cost of about $85,000.
Whitfield County Emergency Medical Services director Rick Cobb said Hamilton Medical EMS will submit a proposal.
Mr. Cobb said employees have access to important training they might not otherwise have because of the service’s connection to the hospital, which has a Level II trauma center.
“We would very much like to continue doing business (with the county),” he said. “We feel we are a part of this community. We would like to continue being the full-service EMS.”
In the event the county chooses another service, Hamilton EMS will still transport patients to and from Hamilton Medical Center. This includes patient transfers or calls that come into the hospital instead of 911, said Mr. Cobb.
Counties commonly contract ambulance services to private companies. Local examples include Lifeguard International providing ambulance service to Hamilton County and Angel EMS providing service in Catoosa County, Ga., according to Mr. Putnam.
Mr. Hale said the county is looking to save money in other areas as well. That could include consolidating services with Dalton to cut duplication.
The county is taking steps such as turning computers and lights off when they are not in use and “buying hybrid vehicles where available to get better gas mileage,” Mr. Hale said.
He also noted “modified hiring freeze, no raises, no cost of living adjustments (and) no promotions” as other cost-savings initiatives.
Copyright 2009 Chattanooga Publishing Company