County-wide ambulance ordinance approved

At their business meeting on Tuesday, the Franklin County Commission approved a county-wide ambulance ordinance that lays out uniform regulations for any emergency medical service (EMS) provider within the county.

The ordinance also specified that a county EMS Committee would be created that would exist for the purpose of reviewing and updating the ordinance, handling the request for proposals from prospective EMS providers who want to operate in Franklin County, and handling any and all complaints made against an EMS provider currently operating in the county.

Members of the 10-member, county-wide EMS committee currently include Roy Gober, Franklin County EMA director; Dr. Kevin Kelly, medical director for Russellville Fire Department; Russellville Fire Chief Joe Mansell; Belinda Johnson, chief nursing officer for Russellville Hospital; Doug Hatton, Franklin County Commission representative; and Linda Holcomb, city of Red Bay representative.

Representatives from Red Bay Hospital, and the towns of Hodges, Phil Campbell and Vina will also be selected by their respective municipality or organization to serve on the committee as well.

Commission chairman Judge Barry Moore said he believed the EMS committee and the new ambulance ordinance were needed in order to have everyone on the same page concerning this issue.

“Our goal is to have a good, quality ambulance service for the citizens of Franklin County,” Moore said.

“Whether they live in Atwood or Pogo, at the east end of the county or the west end, we want everyone to have the best care possible, and this ordinance will ensure that will be the case.

“The EMS committee was a necessary component to this county-wide ordinance being passed because this group of people is well-versed in the regulations and rules that are needed and that should be expected of any ambulance service that wishes to locate in the county.

“They are fully equipped to handle any issues that arise, and there will be a representation of people from across the county on the committee so each community’s voice will be heard.”

The ambulance ordinance that was passed sets up regulations for minimum standards that must be met if an EMS provider is going to operate in Franklin County.

Moore said the ordinance would be enforced county-wide, unless the municipality for a current service area chose to opt out.

“It’s like an umbrella,” Moore explained. “Since this is a county-wide ordinance, everyone in the county can be covered by this ordinance and those EMS providers that serve those areas will have to adhere to the ordinance.

“However, a municipality can choose to opt out. Currently there are three service areas for EMS in Franklin County – Russellville, which also covers Tharptown and Belgreen; Red Bay, which also covers Vina and Hodges; and Phil Campbell, which also covers East Franklin.

“In the Russellville coverage area, they are serviced by Pleasant Bay Ambulance Service. In the Red Bay coverage area, they are serviced by Transcare Ambulance Service. In the Phil Campbell coverage area, they are serviced by the Phil Campbell Rescue Squad.

“If any of those municipalities choose to opt out of being under the county’s ambulance ordinance, they can choose to operate under their own municipality’s ordinance. They also have the option to opt back in at any time.”

Following the county commission’s passage of the new ambulance ordinance, Russellville Mayor David Grissom said a special called meeting of the Russellville City Council will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 12 p.m., to pass a resolution stating Russellville and its coverage area will be in support of the county-wide ordinance and will adhere to its rules and regulations.

“This whole situation was started in November when the city of Russellville created its own EMS committee that would be responsible for reviewing the city’s EMS ordinance, making necessary changes, and making sure the EMS providers follow the guidelines set out by the ordinance,” Grissom said.

“After meeting several different times to review and discuss the ordinance, that six-member committee decided that the issues we had with our own city ordinance were issues that needed to be addressed county-wide and that a county-wide ordinance was really what was needed to get everyone on the same page.

“As the mayor, I am in full support of an ordinance that is in the best interest of the citizens of Russellville as well as the county as a whole.

“I appreciate the work the city’s EMS committee did and those who have spent time reviewing this ordinance and getting it to where it needs to be.”

Gober said the EMS committee will remain intact and will continue to review the ordinance and make sure that any EMS providers under the ordinance are in compliance.

Gober also said the EMS committee will be responsible for dealing with any violations and will take up those violations with the county or municipality where they operate.

“This was the best solution to get everybody on the same page and to get Franklin County citizens the highest level of care possible and to maintain that level of care,” Gober said.