LOUISVILLE, Ky. (June 29, 2012) — Baptist Hospital Northeast will begin managing the Oldham County Emergency Medical Service on July 1.
President Chris Roty signed a one-year agreement with the Oldham County Ambulance Taxing District on June 19. Baptist Northeast was one of five companies – and the only not-for-profit – to submit management proposals for the financially struggling service. The agreement is renewable annually.
“This is truly a community partnership and a natural step for Baptist to improve the quality of emergency medical care in Oldham County,” Roty said.
Oldham County Judge/executive David Voegele described the partnership as “the perfect marriage.”
“In the past, many of us in the community have called on Baptist Northeast for leadership and, once again, the hospital has answered our call,” he said.
Interim director for the ambulance service is Jamey Locke from the Mercy Regional EMS in Paducah — a joint venture between Western Baptist Hospital and Lourdes Hospital. Through Mercy, Baptist has 16 years of experience in operating an ambulance service.
The service’s staff (about 60 people) are now Baptist Northeast employees. Ambulances continue to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The ambulance taxing district, which still owns all equipment and facilities, has retained about $500,000 in tax revenue for maintenance and upkeep.
The hospital will receive $2.2 million from the taxing district plus insurance and special event coverage payments to pay for day-to-day operational costs such as personnel, fuel and medical supplies. The district’s 2011-12 budget was $4.1 million.
“We’ve got the resources, we’ve got the purchasing power,” Roty said. “We’ll also be working on a strategic plan with the taxing district.”
The move comes as Baptist Northeast is celebrating its 25th year of serving Oldham and surrounding counties, and was recently named one of the Best Places to Work in Kentucky.
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