CCMSD looks to replace Sundance ambulances

Faced with the question of how to replace two ambulances in Sundance as quickly as possible, the board of trustees for Crook County Medical Service District last week put a long-term idea for the county ambulance service on the backburner. Instead, the board intends to approach the City of Sundance to discuss options to replace the ailing vehicles.

At a previous request from the board, CEO Nathan Hough had been researching possibilities to purchase new ambulances and find financing, but said he had been unable to find a perfect solution. At Thursday’s meeting, Chairman Sandy Neiman suggested hiring in an outside company from somewhere such as Rapid City to provide ambulance services using its own vehicles.

This, said Hough, is unlikely to be an option because most are operated by hospitals and would not be interested in taking on Crook County’s needs. However, he felt that the county could come together to provide its own solution.

“We can do a way better job of supplying [ambulance services] ourselves,” said Hough.

“Right now in this county, we’ve got eight ambulances, when we can get by with five. We could sell those other ambulances and buy new ones.”

This would be achieved by bringing ambulance coverage for the whole county under the umbrella of the hospital, he explained.

“We are in a really unique situation where we can provide ambulance coverage for the county – having each individual Hulett service, Moorcroft service, Sundance service – all under the umbrella of the hospital,” Hough said.

“We would really only need a maximum of six, more likely of five, to support those services.”

Placing the ambulance service under the hospital would allow for reimbursement for the cost of running the services, Hough said. He also pointed out that the district is not eligible to apply for grants like a city or county but, if the ambulances were under this suggested umbrella, an arrangement could be worked out whereby a city or the county could apply for a grant to cover some of the cost and the district could lease the ambulance – and, by doing so, pay back the cost of that ambulance.

Neiman pointed out that the district would need to host a meeting that involved all the individual ambulance services around the county. Other board members expressed concern that the independent services in some towns are a source of “civic pride” for the communities.

However, the board’s overriding concern was that the issue with Sundance’s ambulances is pressing and needs to be solved more quickly than it would by altering the make-up of the county ambulance service.

“That’s a long-term planning thing. There is an issue right here now,” said Trustee Joey Kanode.

Kanode expressed concern over the liability of using “junkers”. If an ambulance breaks down on a call and a patient dies, “Who do you think is going to be liable?” he asked Attorney Kyle Ridgeway.

Though it was a question that needed research, Ridgeway agreed there is a possibility the district could bear some responsibility if it knew the ambulances were substandard, depending on the circumstances.

Hough asked for direction as to whether begin running numbers and researching the possibility of an umbrella for the ambulance service. The board chose to meet with the city and county commissioners in an effort to convince them to immediately help replace the ailing ambulances.