Mercy EMS takes over South Barry County ambulances
March 16, 2016
Charlea Estes
After 28 years, ambulance services for the South Barry County Ambulance District (SBCAD) were switched from CoxHealth to Mercy last week. The SBCAD voted to switch providers last fall, and the transition happened March 9.
Mercy was enthusiastic about the opportunity to provide services as part of a five-year contract. Both Mercy and CoxHealth bid the contract at no cost for the SBCAD, and the Board selected Mercy for various benefits.
So far, response to the switch was been mostly positive. Barry County E9-1-1 director Mike Phillips said, “I am sure the people of Barry County would be pleased in the increased patient care that has been shown this week. I look forward to building on this with Mercy.”
SBCAD board president Ken Cieslinski said, “In all honesty, the switch has been absolutely phenomenal. It’s been seamless and I say that with confidence. I’ve has an unbelievable amount of communication with Bob Patterson, the director of MS services, and field supervisors and it’s gone incredibly well. They’ve done a lot of preparation and it shows. The communication is good or better than it’s ever been with 9-1-1.”
Bob Patterson, executive director for Mercy EMS, stated, “We’re excited to build on the services provided to Barry County. With backup from Mercy Hospital Cassville, as well as three Life Line helicopters and other Mercy EMS services nearby, we’re now in a great spot to respond to patients quickly.”
Mercy is staffing around 30 new positions as part of the three 24-hour vehicles. Two of those ambulances are housed at the Cassville station and one is in Shell Knob.
Patterson added, “These new services will bring the best possible service for our patients.” Mercy has mutual aid through Mercy EMS in Aurora as well as other nearby counties.
Mercy Hospital Cassville’s administrator Doug Stroemel said, “We’re very pleased to welcome our Mercy EMS team to South Barry County. Together, we’re committed to providing excellent care and service to our patients.”
While CoxHealth employees were offered positions with Mercy after the switch, all 17 decided to stay with CoxHealth. Of those, 12 are staffing “float trucks” that are used throughout the system wherever they are needed. Two others are supervisors on those trucks and rotate with Stone County, and the other three took positions in Stone and Webster Counties.
Kaitlyn McConnell, media relations coordinator for CoxHealth, said, “The staff that lived and worked in the South Barry County Ambulance District area have developed close bonds with the communities and citizens that they served. Many of them still live in the area. They are disappointed with this change, but they remain active citizens within the county. It is their goal to continue providing professional and compassionate care for patients that they encounter going forward, just as they have done in South Barry County for the past 28 years.”
For Mercy, Patterson said, “All our new co-workers are excited about the opportunity to serve the residents and visitors of the District.”
Cieslinski said, “We were in hopes early on that we would retain some of the employees, but as time went on that wasn’t the case. We understand and we support them in the decision that they made.”
Charlea Estes
After 28 years, ambulance services for the South Barry County Ambulance District (SBCAD) were switched from CoxHealth to Mercy last week. The SBCAD voted to switch providers last fall, and the transition happened March 9.
Mercy was enthusiastic about the opportunity to provide services as part of a five-year contract. Both Mercy and CoxHealth bid the contract at no cost for the SBCAD, and the Board selected Mercy for various benefits.
So far, response to the switch was been mostly positive. Barry County E9-1-1 director Mike Phillips said, “I am sure the people of Barry County would be pleased in the increased patient care that has been shown this week. I look forward to building on this with Mercy.”
SBCAD board president Ken Cieslinski said, “In all honesty, the switch has been absolutely phenomenal. It’s been seamless and I say that with confidence. I’ve has an unbelievable amount of communication with Bob Patterson, the director of MS services, and field supervisors and it’s gone incredibly well. They’ve done a lot of preparation and it shows. The communication is good or better than it’s ever been with 9-1-1.”
Bob Patterson, executive director for Mercy EMS, stated, “We’re excited to build on the services provided to Barry County. With backup from Mercy Hospital Cassville, as well as three Life Line helicopters and other Mercy EMS services nearby, we’re now in a great spot to respond to patients quickly.”
Mercy is staffing around 30 new positions as part of the three 24-hour vehicles. Two of those ambulances are housed at the Cassville station and one is in Shell Knob.
Patterson added, “These new services will bring the best possible service for our patients.” Mercy has mutual aid through Mercy EMS in Aurora as well as other nearby counties.
Mercy Hospital Cassville’s administrator Doug Stroemel said, “We’re very pleased to welcome our Mercy EMS team to South Barry County. Together, we’re committed to providing excellent care and service to our patients.”
While CoxHealth employees were offered positions with Mercy after the switch, all 17 decided to stay with CoxHealth. Of those, 12 are staffing “float trucks” that are used throughout the system wherever they are needed. Two others are supervisors on those trucks and rotate with Stone County, and the other three took positions in Stone and Webster Counties.
Kaitlyn McConnell, media relations coordinator for CoxHealth, said, “The staff that lived and worked in the South Barry County Ambulance District area have developed close bonds with the communities and citizens that they served. Many of them still live in the area. They are disappointed with this change, but they remain active citizens within the county. It is their goal to continue providing professional and compassionate care for patients that they encounter going forward, just as they have done in South Barry County for the past 28 years.”
For Mercy, Patterson said, “All our new co-workers are excited about the opportunity to serve the residents and visitors of the District.”
Cieslinski said, “We were in hopes early on that we would retain some of the employees, but as time went on that wasn’t the case. We understand and we support them in the decision that they made.”
