Paramedics to cut back service area

SANDPOINT — Big Sky Paramedics told Bonner County it will limit its coverage and services unless the county contracts with the company and other agencies for emergency medical services.

The EMS provider will take patients from Bonner General Hospital to Kootenai Medical Center only when advanced life-support care is required. It will only respond to specific advanced life-support calls in the area when they involve mass causalities, cardiac or respiratory problems. And Big Sky will phase out all inter-facility transports by August.

In August, Big Sky will only intercept inbound patients from Dover or Kootenai.

Big Sky has been one of the county’s main EMS providers for more than four years.

Jason Giddings of Big Sky said the company regrets suspension of the services, but it is unable to continue due to the lack of financial support. Big Sky also blames nationwide changes in the health care industry such as insurance cutbacks, rising payroll and medical-supply costs, Giddings said.

It is asking for a contract with the county guaranteeing financial support by July 31. If finances fail, it will lay off one-third of its staff and confine services to Sandpoint’s city limit, leaving areas of the county lacking a nearby emergency transportation agency.

County Commissioners met on the issue last week. The county can create a taxing district to fund ambulance services. But if the county were to act immediately on an ambulance district, commission Chairwoman Marcia Phillips said revenue would not be available anytime soon.

Commissioner Jerry Clemons said the July 31 deadline is impossible to meet, suggesting the move is an “exit strategy.”