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Discussion on potential changes to the ownership and delivery of area ambulance services has been put on hold, at least until early-2025.
Little has transpired since an Oct. 18 meeting, where representatives of local governments and Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital expressed interest in forming a task force to look further at a consultant’s recommendation that EBCH take ownership of ambulance operations in Ely, Babbitt and Tower.
In a letter to local government leaders released Wednesday, hospital administrator Patti Banks said “Coordinating consistent communication with a large group is challenging, especially during this past election and the current holiday season. Because of this, the hospital will continue to pause work on a regional approach.”
Banks provided further clarification, adding that “The hospital is working on and will continue to work on its initiative to address patient transport needs. We hope to resume collaboration sometime after the first of the year.”
The current pause comes after representatives of both Babbitt and Tower voiced interest in the proposal advanced earlier this year by SafeTech Solutions, a firm engaged by EBCH to explore ambulance- related issues.
The SafeTech proposal calls for two fully-staffed ambulances in Ely, and one each in Babbitt and Tower.
It’s been pitched as a means to ensure full-time ambulance service in all three communities, with EBCHownershiptoutedastheideal model given the hospital’s standing as a critical access hospital and its ability to capture a higher share of Medicare reimbursements.
The study came in the midst of severe financial distress last year for Ely’s ambulance service, which is currently run by a non-profit board, and amid other challenges including staffing and difficulty completing many interfacility transports.
Those are issues that vex ambulance services in rural areas across the state, and consultants have told area officials that either “volume or subsidy” are needed to pay for ambulance service.
Current plans call for full-time staff to operate ambulances in all three communities,in a system with some flexibility allowing for continued coverage.
Attracting and retaining ambulance staff is a current challenge and the new model calls for fulltime staff with higher wages and benefits.
The new model also comes with much higher costs, and the next phase of talks is expected to include more detailed estimates - including the amount of subsidy that maybe sought by way of tax dollars from area communities.
In Ely, ambulance operations are now handled by the non-profit Ely Area Ambulance Service.
While the EAAS encountered severe financial distress last year, its fortunes have improved this year, thanks in large part to additional funding approved by Minnesota lawmakers.
SafeTech first released its proposal during the spring, but there has been little progress since, other than a pair of meetings involving local government leaders - one at Ely City Hall in August and the second at EBCH in October.
The city of Winton has already gone on record in support of the proposal and Tower and Ely representatives have indicated they’re open to pursuing more details.
The response has been more murky in Babbitt, where officials have raised concerns related to staffing, coverage and facilities. Other skeptics have urged area leaders to slow down and seek more details about any potential new arrangement.
