Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 14 , 2022 -- SEVEN
The ambulance services
you rely on may be at risk.
Support collaboration, not competition,
to keep Morrow County safe.
For nearly 30 years, Morrow County Health District has been the
sole provider of Emergency Medical Services in Morrow County.
Our seven ambulances respond quickly from stations in Ione,
Heppner, Irrigon and Boardman that have trained EMTs and
Paramedics available 24/7.
We provide these services to the entire county as one ambulance
service area because it allows us to receive enhanced federal
funding when the ambulance service is associated with our critical
access hospital. This enhanced funding is key because MCHD
heavily subsidizes EMS services in all communities (approximately
$550,000 per fully staffed location). Licensing a separate, competing
ambulance service in Boardman will not only eliminate MCHD’s
eligibility for that enhanced federal funding, but it will jeopardize
ambulance service in cities all across Morrow County.
To ensure Morrow County residents continue to have effective
ambulance services, MCHD supports collaboration, not competition.
We would welcome another provider who could work in tandem
with us to supplement services. The best way for that to happen is
through a contract with MCHD. We are open to considering any
such contract and collaboration if it would be in the best interest
of the public.
THE FACTS
1
MCHD receives enhanced federal
funding that heavily subsidizes EMS
services in all communities.
2
Licensing a competing ambulance
service will eliminate our eligibility for
that enhanced federal funding.
3
A decrease in funding puts our existing
services across the entire county in
serious peril.
4
5
Although MCHD does not make a profit
on our EMS services, we believe all
Morrow County residents have the right
to high-quality ambulance services.
Our new staffing model has two EMS
personnel working 12-hour shifts at
each dispatching location: Boardman
went live in 2021, Irrigon in 2022 and
Hepper in 2023.
6
MCHD does not oppose the addition
of more resources to support EMS in
Morrow County if it’s in the best interest
of the public.
7
If another ambulance provider wishes
to operate in Morrow County, a contract
with MCHD is the best way forward.
MCHD AMBULANCE SERVICES:
Serving Morrow County
Reliably and Efficiently
In Oregon, each ambulance service area is
served by only one ambulance service provider
to prevent conflicts between providers such as
racing to calls. MCHD is the service provider for
all of Morrow County and has been for nearly
30 years.
In Morrow County, there is a multi-disciplinary
EMS Advisory Committee charged with
overseeing the quality and delivery of EMS
services. This committee makes decisions
about the need to modify or add ambulance
services.
Morrow County’s current ASA Plan already
allows for quick response teams to respond
to EMS page-outs to provide care while an
ambulance is en route. This practice has been
successfully used throughout Morrow County
for many years.
MCHD EMS includes a staff of more than
60 personnel that cross-cover all dispatching
locations.
E C N A L U B M A
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MCHD’s seven ambulances are dispatched
from stations in Ione, Heppner, Irrigon and
Boardman that have trained EMTs and
Paramedics available 24/7.
MCHD’s response times are within minutes
and well within established protocols.
Dispatching locations have moved to a
staffing model where they are always
staffed by two EMS personnel working
12-hour shifts, which allows them ample
time away to rest and recover.
When necessary for patient or staff well-
being, MCHD requests assistance from other
agencies, such as a local fire department.
This is called a “mutual aid” request and is
common around the state.
We support collaboration, not competition.
Contact elected board members, county commissioners
and local representatives and urge them to support
MCHD EMS today!
MCHD EMS: Saving lives and serving the community in Morrow County. Find out more at HealthyMC.org.