082212 mid mo amb reg story
Mid-Mo Ambulance ATV to be made stretcher-capable
By DAVID A. WILSON
Democrat Staff
The Mid-Mo Ambulance District Board of directors approved the purchase of a stretcher accessory for the district's Polaris ATV. The decision was made at the regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 15.
The possibility of a stretcher accessory, which would make the ATV capable of transporting a stretcher cot with seats for medical personnel, had been discussed before. While it would make the back of the Polaris similar to the back of an ambulance, the cost of $10,000 was considered too expensive.
Kempf informed the board that AEV, the firm that currently builds the ambulances for Mid-Mo, can measure, install and wrap the insert for about $3,000, significantly less than the previous cost. After discussion, the board approved the upgrade.
Another upgrade reported was the State Ambulance Reporting program. It is now capable of obtaining electronic signatures. Currently each monitor has a cellphone dedicated to send cardiac strips to hospitals, etc. The Critical Care truck is using a laptop for reporting and with the new monitors, the signatures can be obtained to file insurance, the monitors can send cardiac strips to the hospitals while the ambulance is en route and the ambulance can allow the monitor to send the cardiac strip to the ambulance report.
With the purchase of new monitors for all ambulances, Kempf proposed the purchase of five iPads and hotspot Internet wireless boxes. The cost for the cellphone service, which will no longer be used, will be about the same as the Wi-Fi. A special deal has been obtained since the district wants to purchase five iPad II units with protective cases and keypads. The entire cost for the five Ipads IIs and accessories should be about $2,900. The board approved the purchase.
Employee health insurance proposals were presented by representatives of two companies. Following a review of the proposals, the board accepted the bid from Wallstreet, Insurance Group, Jefferson City, for the Anthem Plan. The current plan, Coventry/Mercy is not longer available and the plan closest to it through Coventry had a 9.0 percent premium increase - an additional $1,135.47 per month.
The Anthem Blue Preferred Select plan was most comparable to the current plan and would reduce premiums by $2,061.88 per month.
The other bidding company plan proposals quotes were given at the maximum rate since applications were not done for all of the quotes. It was done this way so any adjustments would be made down, not up, after the applications were completed. All prices quoted were similar.
In other business, the August report of the treasurer presented a balance of funds on hand in the amount of $509,557.22.
Run statistics for August were: Tipton - 49 calls with 33 transports; California - 82 calls, 55 transports; Versailles - 151 calls, 95 transports; Barnett - 18 calls, 13 transports. Total calls district-wide were 300 with 196 transports for a transport rate on patient contact of 73.4 percent.
The Tax Levy Rate Hearing is set for Aug. 29, from 7 to 8 p.m., at the district office in Tipton.
The next regular monthly meeting will be Sept. 12, at 7 p.m., at the district office.