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Fr- I J U L 5 1994 BOOK 92 FAuE 749 TO: Honorable Board of Commissioners THROUGH: Jim Chandler, County Administrator FROM: Doug Wright, Director Emergency Services DATE: June 28, 1994 SUBJECT: Able Aviation and Air Ambulance, Inc., Request for an EMS Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Provide Non -emergency Advanced Life Support Interfacility Transport Services in Indian River County It is respectfully requested that the information contained herein be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners,at a public hearing scheduled for the regular meeting of July 5, 1994. DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS On May 19, 1994,- Able Aviation and Air Ambulance submitted an application for an EMS Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to provide non -emergency advanced life support interfacility transport in Indian River County. Pursuant to Chapter 304 of the Indian River County Code, an investigation was conducted regarding the application and public need for additional EMS service providers in the County. As part of the investigation, each municipality, hospital, EMS provider, and each of the fifteen (15 ) nursing homes/facilities in the County was contacted or corresponded with by mail. Also, a meeting was held on June 21, 1994, and notice was given so that input from the providers, municipalities, interested groups, or citizens could be obtained and questions regarding the proposed service could be answered by a representative of Able Aviation and Air Ambulance. Prior to the meeting and as part of the investigation, additional documentation was requested from Able Aviation and Air Ambulance, which Mr. Gary Burdsall, representing the company, promptly provided. Able Aviation and Air Ambulance has only been in the EMS ground transport business for approximately three (3) months and is headquartered in St. Lucie County. The company has one ALS ambulance, one BLS ambulance, and one medic -van for wheel chair patients. The company has been in the EMS air transport business since 1987 and' has nine (9) air transport units operating out of airports located in Fort Pierce, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville. The - company estimated that they have had approximately thirty (30) runs in Indian River County since they began the ground transport service, with almost all of those originating in St. Lucie County for patients who needed medical -related transportation to their doctors in Indian River County or to Indian River Memorial Hospital. The company does not plan to establish a base of operations or office in Indian River County. The company has stated that the main reason for seeking the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity is for the company's ground unit to be able to transport a patient from a hospital or doctor's office in Indian River County to the Vero Beach Airport to their aircraft, rather than the company having to hire a local provider to perform that service. The company representative also indicated that they wanted to be able to legally assist the other providers in the County if called upon to do so. In addition to the letters of reference required to accompany the certificate application, the following two letters have been received regarding the proposed service: 18