GERMANTOWN, Tenn. - Germantown is looking to start its own ambulance service but some question why and at what cost.
In brief:
-Germantown is looking to buy 4 ambulances of their own.
-Currently employ Rural Metro as the ambulance service.
- Germantown pays $404,000 a year for ambulance service
These days, the Germantown Fire Department is answering more medical calls than fire calls. The current ambulance provider said Germantown is not going to get better service on their own.
Current Ambulance System in Place
"About 60% total calls volume is medical," said Chief Dennis Wolf.
They attribute the increase to the development of the medical corridor on Wolf River and the increasing age of Germantown residents.
Currently, Germantown participates with Shelby County, Arlington, Collierville, Lakeland and Millington in a contract with Rural Metro ambulance but the contract is about to expire.
Publicly Germantown leaders say they're happy with Rural Metro's service, but an ambulance business plan from the fire department tells a different story.
It shows there's a lack of equipment on the ambulances that Rural Metro is charging patients for supplies and medical procedures provided by the fire department and the average response time is 9 minutes while the fire department's is 5.
"I think very possible Germantown will get our own ambulance service, we're ready to do this and believe in the service we're providing," said Wolf.
Rural Metro Paints Different Picture
Rural Metro said they replenish the fire trucks with supplies and they dispute the response times.
"Right now we have a 4:30 response time, we're arriving on scene prior to engine most of the time," said Glen Miller, the General Manager of Rural Metro.
Germantown’s Mayor taking New Approach
"This is a question of life and death," said Germantown Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy.
Mayor Goldsworthy said there are even bigger issues, including a time lapse in care and the potential for miscommunication when patients are transferred between fire department and ambulance personnel.
"When ambulance arrives and it's typically a matter of a few minutes, there is a handoff time, our personnel have explained the situation to the ambulance personnel, takes 1 min, 2, 3, 4, 5 min before patient headed to transport."
Germantown Fire on Response Time
But the Germantown Fire Chief said ambulance response time has not negatively affected outcome.
"I cannot think of a situation where a delay in response of ambulance has been attributed to poor patient outcome or fatality," said Chief Wolf.
Miller said he's baffled by Germantown wanting to get its own ambulance service and said no other communities have talked about it.
"My first thought, surprise after looking at it no way I see Germantown is going to be able to improve on the quality of ambulance service they have now," said Miller.
Implications of New Ambulance Service
If Germantown gets its own ambulance service, it could have huge implications for surrounding communities. Rural Metro said they'd have to re-examine their contract and it could mean higher response times and a higher bill.
The Germantown mayor said Germantown ambulance service was talked about well before school or government consolidation and rejects the notion that the town is trying to distance itself from the county.
"I think the school consolidation issue, consolidating government issue will help magnify the fact Germantown is looking at doing an ambulance service, it's part of it," said Chief Wolf.
Right now, Germantown pays $404,000 a year for ambulance service. Now they're looking to buy 4 ambulances of their own.
How Much Services Will Cost
But operating their own service would come at a cost, according to the Germantown business plan, by the 2nd year the town would be spending more than $40,000 a year than they do now and by year 4, they'd be spending $125,000 more a year on ambulance service.
"Even though wont pay for itself totally, deficit not that much with careful management we can continue to keep operating deficit small," said Chief Wolf.
Mayor Goldsworthy said they're looking at the budget now.
The fire department said the benefits outweigh the cost, but do they?
Worth It?
Mayor Goldsworthy said, "we simply have to look at resources and how importation of a priority of community."
"The ability to have total control over the system I think is very important for us in Germantown," said Chief Wolf.
"I want Germantown to do what's best for Germantown I don't see how going to better themselves by starting their own ambulance service and it's definitely gong to cost them more, possibly for not as good a service," said Miller.
An outside consultant, hired by Germantown to study the issue and give an objective opinion on it, suggested the town not get their own ambulance service, saying a local government would have a harder time than a private company in providing ambulance service on a competitive and cost-effective basis.
But the mayor said
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