CBS 19 - The Eye of East Texas News - Rusk County Keeps Champion Ambulance Service
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LONGVIEW, TX (KYTX) - Annabelle Cates rarely goes to meetings of Rusk County Commissioners Court.
"I used to but not anymore," she said as she entered the courthouse.
When she heard ETMC wanted to become the county's ambulance service provider, she worried for her ill son.
"My son lives at the end of the county and I wanted to make sure his contract would still be honored," she continued.
Mark Leitner suggested the contract switch due to ETMC's partnership with Henderson Memorial.
"It's specific dollars over specific time period all designed to continue the provision of high quality healthcare to the residents here," Leitner told Commissioners Thursday morning.
He went on to say that since the affiliation, Champion's hospital trips went from more than 160 to about 120 now, which he says is a 23% drop. Champion says that stat is due to a drop in overall calls. Both sides agree they transport patients based on severity first, patient choice second.
"The Champion service is without question high quality and good service and to change for some other reason other than the patient's best interest is not what you're elected to do," said former Henderson Memorial attending physician Dr. Mike McCrady.
Commissioner Bill Hale said the majority of his constituents favor Champion and the county couldn't ethically switch providers if Champion did nothing to break the existing contract. The court agreed.
Cates still wanted to know how dedicated ETMC would be for outer residents like her son.
"If you can't get down the Rusk County road to get him would you go through Nacogdoches County to get him?", she asked.
"Yeah, we don't stop at county lines," replied the ETMC representative.
She says she still prefers keeping things the way they are.
"I have nothing against the other ambulance service, but I'm pleased with Champion because I know they will pck him up and know where he lives."
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