Yuma Fire Department Awarded Certificate for Ambulance Transport
Date:
01/19/2012 (Last updated: 01/20/2012)Summary:
The certificate will permit YFD to provide both Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support services within the City's physical boundaries, including unincorporated county islands.Contact:
Health Director Rejects Law Judge's Findings
Following a long process that included delays and a negative finding by an administrative law judge, the Yuma Fire Department on Thursday was awarded a Certificate of Necessity to provide both advanced and basic life support services inside City boundaries from the final authority on the matter - Arizona Department of Health Services Director Will Humble.
The certificate will permit YFD to provide both Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support services within the City's physical boundaries, including unincorporated county islands. Humble's ruling also establishes parameters for rates and response times.
These parameters put in place for Yuma the "Tucson model," which is "one of the best models in the state," explained Fire Chief Jack McArthur, who had received a personal phone call from Humble earlier in the day regarding his findings.
"We were optimistic throughout the whole process that we would achieve this outcome," said City Administrator Greg Wilkinson. "We're very happy for Yuma to be able to provide high-quality transport service. We have an excellent fire department - top-notch - and believe residents will notice the great job they do."
Humble's ruling contrasted with the recommendations of an administrative law judge that were made public in December 2011. "Now, therefore, in that the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommended decision of the appointed administrative law judge ... are not supported by the greater weight of the credible evidence and are not consistent with applicable law, they are not legally correct, and they are hereby rejected," Humble wrote.
Throughout the process, the emphasis has always been about improving emergency medical services to Yuma residents, Wilkinson indicated. Those needing a rescue will benefit from YFD's superior response times, and the motoring public will incur less risk from a reduction of "lights and sirens" vehicles responding to each incident, as duplicate responses by two different agencies will no longer be necessary.
"We are cooperating fully with our new partners, Rural/Metro, who have been longtime ambulance providers in the city, to improve service and to reduce duplication and improve patient care," McArthur said.
Prior to receiving the certificate, Yuma was the largest city in Arizona that had only one ambulance provider. Somerton and San Luis in Yuma County also have more than one service provider.
