Citrus County leaders confront Med Fleet over patient care standards

Concerns over emergency medical services took center stage at the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners meeting on December 10, 2024, as a local healthcare provider voiced urgent issues regarding ambulance availability and patient safety.

During the meeting, a representative from a local facility expressed frustration with Med Fleet's current operational practices, highlighting a troubling reliance on late-night calls to rearrange ambulance services. "Those processes should already be there," the representative stated, emphasizing that the lack of quality meetings and utilization reviews has persisted for three years. The urgency of the situation was underscored by the representative's assertion that competition in the healthcare sector is necessary to ensure quality care for patients in Citrus County.

The representative warned that delaying action could jeopardize patient safety, stating, "It's going to put patients at risk and could cause the demise of a patient." This stark warning reflects a growing concern among healthcare providers about the adequacy of emergency services in the region.

As the meeting progressed, Med Fleet was invited to present their side, indicating that discussions on improving ambulance services and ensuring patient safety are far from over. The outcome of these discussions could significantly impact the quality of emergency medical care in Citrus County, as stakeholders seek to address the pressing issues raised.