Physicians won’t be contracting ambulance services

by Cat Urbigkit

The Sublette County Rural Health Care District board met in Pinedale Monday evening and, without discussion, quickly rejected a proposal to have the clinic contracting physicians take over ambulance services in the county.

The idea had been advanced at an earlier meeting a few months ago and Board Chairman Dave Racich had drafted a proposal for the physicians to consider. Racich wasn’t in attendance at Monday’s meeting; neither were the clinic physicians.

Board Member Jim Greenwood, serving as chairman in Racich’s absence, suggested the board reject the proposal, which the board did, although no vote was taken.

Pinedale Emergency Medical Technician Wil Gay approached the board about the state paying individual EMTs to teach classes to others. While the state provides the funding for these instructors, at a meeting last month, the board told the EMTs that if any EMT received any money (or anything else such as medical supplies) from any source while representing the county, that money or contribution must be turned back into the program.

Gay questioned how the board wanted to handle the instructor situation, in light of the fact that the EMT instructors are teaching the classes on their own time.

Board clerk Juana McGinnis pointed out that it is the state that hires the instructors: "It’s not the Pinedale EMS or the health care district doing this."

Greenwood said, "If it pertains to the benefit of the community, it will be supported by the board."

Board member Bob Dew said the board should "do everything we possibly can to encourage instruction and people to take these classes."

Board member Garry Eiden said: "I support you 100 percent ... It’s your time and effort you’re putting in," but noted that a draft board policy calls for all donations and money to go to the board.

At Greenwood’s suggestion, the board agreed to hold a policy work session following the board’s budget work session. The question will be addressed at that time.

The budget session is scheduled for Monday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Daniel Fire Hall. If the board has time at that meeting, it will start on policies, but if not, a policy work session has been scheduled for May 6 at 7:30 p.m., also in the Daniel Fire Hall.

Although the board has drafted proposed policies, it refused to release those to the media at this time. Greenwood said once board attorney Ed Wood has reviewed the draft and provided his input, the board will release the proposal for public review.

Membership on the board will change later this year, with Dew’s decision not to seek re-election and Greenwood’s statement that he probably won’t seek another term either. The filing period to appear on the ballot as a candidate for a seat on the board opens Aug. 7. Contact Sublette County Clerk Mary Lankford for more information.