Associated Press
Copyright 2008 Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. — Marshall and Chickasaw counties, two of the 23 Mississippi counties affected by the shutdown of Alabama-based Emergystat ambulance service, had alternatives in place Thursday, according to state health officials.
“There was no interruption of service in any of the counties that were affected,” state Health Officer Dr. Ed Thompson said Thursday. “Interim arrangements have been made in all 23 counties.”
Both Chickasaw and Marshall counties have made arrangements with Corinth-based TransCare Ambulance Services, which also has offices in Southaven.
TransCare agreed to take over ambulance service at the existing rate through September, said Larry Hall, Marshall County administrator. Two ambulances will cover the 710-square-mile county.
“They’ll be using the same personnel that worked with Emergystat,” Hall said. “It’s a relief.”
Marshall County was backed up with extra help from Holly Springs’ hospital, Alliance Health Care, and could have pulled from Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County in New Albany if it had been needed.
Details on ambulance service in Chickasaw County weren’t immediately available, but it is being provided by TransCare.
“We are covered right now,” confirmed Chickasaw County Chancery Clerk Wanda Carlisle.
Emergystat, based in Vernon, Ala., notified Mississippi officials Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. that it would halt operations at midnight. Thompson said officials scrambled to make other arrangements and no one who needed ambulance services was left stranded.
Thompson blamed the company’s problem on “the loss of liability insurance.”
“We have no indication from the company if they intend to resume services,” Thompson said.
The shutdown also affected service in Amite, Coahoma, Claiborne, Greene, Holmes, Jefferson, Kemper, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Panola, Pearl River, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tunica, Wilkinson, Winston and Yazoo counties.
Mississippi is not the only state affected by the shutdown. Emergystat’s operations in Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, Louisiana, Kansas and Florida also ceased at midnight.
Daily Journal reporter Michaela Gibson Morris contributed to this report.