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Dare County, ECU Health continue talks over ambulance transports and shared costs
Summary
County staff said talks are underway with ECU Health about hospital transports; options include hospital-funded transport unit(s), shared surge truck arrangements, or the hospital procuring its own transport resources.
Dare County leaders said on July 4 they are close to an agreement with ECU Health to ease strain created by a rising number of non-emergency patient transports that have reduced the county’s 911 response capacity.
County Manager told the board that long-running communication frictions between ambulance crews and local emergency departments have largely been resolved, but the county remains concerned about the operational impact of frequent long-distance transports. Historically the county provided many interfacility or patient transports—often to Greenville or Norfolk—by pulling ambulances out of the 911 rotation, which reduced available 911 coverage. Growth in both 911 call volume and required transports has made that approach harder to sustain.
Manager said staff and ECU Health representatives are negotiating a contingency: ECU Health would provide at least one ambulance and staffing dedicated primarily to transports (so county ambulances would not be regularly removed from 911 service). The county would provide a “surge truck” option so it could meet occasional extra demand while sharing costs and staffing responsibilities. If the hospital declines or cannot fund those resources, staff said other paths include ECU Health staffing and running their own transport units, or a longer-term reallocation of county resources.
Manager said hospital and county EMS finance teams will “hone down the numbers” and report back; Jenny (a county EMS contact referenced in the meeting) and ECU Health’s EMS director planned to meet to finalize cost estimates and operational details. Commissioners stressed the need for prompt resolution; one commissioner said the board needs answers “sooner rather than later.” Manager said a meeting with hospital leadership was being scheduled with the goal of resolving finances and operational responsibilities.
Why it matters: Frequent long-distance transports affect response capacity for emergent 911 calls. A funded transport unit supported by the hospital would reduce the need to pull county ambulances from 911 rotation and could improve county response times.
What’s next: County staff and ECU Health will finalize a cost-sharing or service-delivery plan; staff will return to the board with the proposed agreement and financial terms. Commissioners asked staff to press for a timely conclusion to the talks.
