Members of Meade County Fiscal Court approved a purchase of updated stretchers and lifts systems for the county’s ambulance service during a special called meeting.
On Thursday (12/22), magistrates met during a special called meeting for the purpose of discussion and possible action on the purchase of new stretchers for EMS. The subject was raised during a report by EMS Director Mike Wise during the regular Fiscal Court meeting on December 13. Wise said that he had been reviewing options to reduce back injuries in the department and was made aware of a sale by a current vendor on new equipment that could help the issue. He asked the court to consider the idea of purchasing powered stretchers to replace the existing one in use.
The stretchers are powered to assist EMS crews with loading and unloading patients at the back of ambulances along with in the field occurrences where crew members have to lift the weight of the equipment. The incentive pricing was valid only during the month of December.
During the special called meeting, a representative from Stryker along with Wise and EMS crew members demonstrated the current stretchers and benefits of the power stretcher systems. After the demonstration, magistrates discussed the options needed for EMS and how the equipment would be fitted into future trucks and plans in the department. The voted unanimously top purchase five powered stretchers and three power lifts at a total price $195,000. The price includes installation of the power lifts into the three main ambulances with plans to include the lift kits in future purchased trucks as purchase specifications are made.
Magistrates discussed the need for the lifts to assist the crews, no matter which ambulance they are using and that medical response calls would make it difficult to near impossible to have a proper truck for specific need calls that would require the assistance of the power lift. The county is receiving zero percent interest financing with an annual payment of $64,758 during the course of the three period. The total price could be reduced by the amount trade-in value allowed for existing equipment. The new equipment is expected to be installed and operational in the next sixty to ninety days.
The only other business actions at the meeting, was for the court members to approve end of year claims and transfers. The next regular meeting of the Meade County Fiscal Court is scheduled for Tuesday, January 10 at 7 pm.
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