Swan Valley ambulance quarrel back in county commissioners hands - East Idaho News
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Swan Valley ambulance quarrel back in county commissioners hands

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IDAHO FALLS — The battle over who should provide ambulance services in Swan Valley continued Friday.

Swan Valley Fire Chief Dean Philbrick appeared before the Bonneville County Commission with a proposal to take back the contract to provide EMS services to the Swan Valley area.

His proposal outlines a $438,000 budget to provide EMS services in that area.

“We are rebidding for the contract County Bonneville to provide ambulance service to Swan Valley with high hopes of obtaining it,” Philbrick told EastIdahoNews.com. “We have been doing it for 44-years, we can do it better than anyone else.”

But that view wasn’t necessary shared by the commissioners.

Right now the Idaho Falls Fire Department is contracted as the sole EMS provider for all of Bonneville County, after the County Commission opted to award them the Swan Valley EMS contract last year. The decision relieved the Swan Valley Fire Department of its EMS responsibilities, in addition to its $335,000 annual contract.

The decision was made because the Commissioners became concerned about spending more per-capita on EMS in the Swan Valley area than anywhere else in the county. Commissioners said previously some 17 percent of the county’s total EMS budget was providing 1.5 percent of the services, which were in the Swan Valley area.

The Idaho Falls contract was significantly cheaper.

But that contract is now nearing its end date and both Swan Valley and Idaho Falls fire departments are putting in bids to the commission.

Last Monday the city of Idaho Falls presented their proposal, during which EMS Chief Eric Day informed the commissioners about advancements in training and technologies the city has invested into providing services to the Swan Valley community.

“We have improved our communication capabilities up there to make sure that our crews have encrypted radios to allow for better communications when they are out in the backcountry.” Day told commissioners. “We have been working on four wheeler training and motorcycle training as part of the backcountry rescue along side with the Sheriff’s Office.”

During that meeting, Idaho Falls Fire Chief Dave Hanneman expressed concerned that Swan Valley ambulances are still responding to calls that they have not been dispatched too.

“When two ambulance respond from two different agencies it can be confusing for patients.” Day told EastIdahoNews.com.

Philbrick denied that claim and told Commissioners that dispatchers had asked his ambulance to respond.

Commissioner Roger Christensen explained to Hanneman that Swan Valley at times didn’t feel Idaho Falls was receiving the proper backup so they “were responding with their own backup ambulance.”

Nevertheless, the Bonneville County Commissioners responded to the unauthorized ambulance assistance with a cease and desist order earlier this month.

On Friday, Swan Valley Fire Chief Dean Philbrick responded to the allegations of the unauthorized ambulance assistance. He said his department is still licensed with the state to run their ambulance and they are waiting for an agreement with dispatch and the sheriff’s office.

“It seems kind of foolish to send a backup ambulance from Idaho Falls when you’ve got one right there with a crew,” Philbrick said. “We do not interfere with Idaho Falls, we work with them, we have never tried to get a transport out of them, all we do is try to assist.”

Hanneman explained the city’s backup ambulance protocol for the Swan Valley area. He said anytime their crew is on an extended call or if a patient is transported to the hospital, an additional IFFD ambulance responds to Swan Valley to cover any additional calls. As a result, no extra assistance is needed, he said.

Also brought up at both meetings was a concern about the ownership of one of the Swan Valley ambulances.

The Greater Swan Valley Fire Protection District is currently involved in a legal dispute with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

In 2012, Swan Valley received a $113,500 grant to purchase an ambulance. But when Swan Valley lost the EMS contract last year, it voided the terms of that grant and the state has since requested the return of the ambulance or the dollar amount of the grant plus interest.

Philbrick asserts his department is working to keep the ambulance, hopefully by securing the ambulance contract once again.

“As far as the state requisitioning the return of our ambulance I can’t say much at this point.” Philbrick said. “What I can say is that as Chief, I’m going to do whatever I can to protect my men and the community I serve.”

The commission will meet again July 5 to make a decision about the ambulance contract.

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