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Greene County ambulance service reports equipment upgrades, staff changes and approves two billing dispositions
Summary
At a Greene County ambulance service meeting, officials reported upcoming monitor upgrades, a temporary pause in the community paramedic program while a replacement completes training, vehicle and repair concerns, run and revenue totals, and the board approved two billing actions (a compromise and a hardship disposition).
An agency official for Greene County’s ambulance service told the board that the council approved funding for additional patient monitors and that at least one of the new monitors should be upgraded in April to make devices compatible with the hospital’s equipment.
The official said the community paramedic has taken another job and is using PTO while a replacement—an experienced paramedic who lives in the same district and is completing required coursework under Dr. Gamble—finishes certification. The official said the community paramedic program will be temporarily paused during the paramedic’s maternity leave and described a target return of about May 15.
"It makes our equipment more compatible with the hospital," the agency official said of the new monitors, saying compatibility will reduce the need to swap devices during patient transfers.
Samantha Gordon, named in the discussion, will expand her role as training officer, the official said. Gordon will coordinate countywide in‑service training, visit local fire departments to verify equipment and certifications, and drive the community‑program vehicle to reach volunteers who are only available evenings.
Officials reported vehicle‑maintenance concerns for unit Mercy 3 (0069). The vehicle has been under repair since January with mounting costs; the speaker said the unit may be taken out of service and placed on the lot if brakes or other repairs are not completed.
Operational metrics cited to the board included 472 total runs, 291 transports and 77 transfers; 38 transfers were described as long‑distance transfers (over 50 miles). On finance, staff reported collections of $118,784 and said a billing error recently fixed should increase future collections.
On billing actions, staff presented two items for board approval. First, staff said a law firm identified as Schultz Personal Injury Attorneys asked the service to compromise and settle a client’s outstanding ambulance bill; a motion to approve the proposed compromise was made, seconded and carried by voice vote. The transcript contains inconsistent phrasing about the precise settlement amount; the record as read aloud is not internally consistent and the board did not announce a numeric vote tally on the record.
Second, the board considered a hardship application involving an individual billed $1,676 to the ambulance service and reporting $12,000–$13,000 in uninsured medical expenses. After discussion and a request for follow‑up verification of insurance/payment history, the board voted on a motion to accept insurance payment and discharge any remaining balance; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote (counts not specified).
Board members also noted a generous donation to purchase uniforms (jackets, hats, footwear and pants) for all employees; the donation was restricted by the donor to uniform purchases and was accepted.
The meeting concluded after the motions to approve the two billing actions and a motion to adjourn.
