By Jim Reeder
Palm Beach Post
Copyright 2007 The Palm Beach Newspapers, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — St. Lucie County Fire Board members agreed Wednesday to waive formal procedures for choosing a company to provide medical helicopter services and could make a selection in August.
Fire Chief Ron Parrish said it’s possible that a single company could serve Martin and St. Lucie counties and send a helicopter from each county if they are needed at a serious accident on Interstate 95 or Florida’s Turnpike.
“It will possibly be more cost effective and enhance services,” Parrish said.
Fire board members agreed they won’t advertise for companies to provide the service to save time in hopes of having an air ambulance ready Oct. 1, when Sheriff Ken Mascara said he no longer will pay half the cost of a county-owned helicopter.
Parrish said he’s been in contact with several companies and will get detailed proposals.
Trauma patients now pay nothing for a helicopter ride from St. Lucie County to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne or St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach.
“The ride will cost the insurance company or the patient, many of whom are from outside St. Lucie County,” fire board member and County Commissioner Doug Coward said.
Parrish said he doesn’t want to advertise the helicopter owned by the county and fire district yet, fearing someone might want it before Oct. 1.
“We have to get an appraisal on the old one before we sell it,” Parrish said.
Fire board member Chris Cooper, a Port St. Lucie councilman, said the district also has to build or lease a hangar for the privately-owned craft.
County commissioners could discuss the helicopter during budget talks starting today.