7/5/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-I mm 92 F�1111'751 J U L 5 199 preclude the company from submitting an application in the future when a public need is demonstrated for additional- providers for interfacility medical transfer or transportation. Staff recommends that the request from Able Aviation and Air Ambulance, Inc., for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to provide an EMS interfacility transport service be denied. Commissioner Adams understood there are no helicopters involved and that this is just for fixed -wing units. She also understood that with the Certificate, one of Able's transport units could come from St. Lucie County to meet a plane at the airport and take a patient to the hospital or vice versa, and Director Wright stated that was correct. Commissioner Adams asked if this was all they were asking for, and Director Wright explained that they want to provide other interfacility transfers in the county, which is the same service provided by Indian River Memorial Hospital. Commissioner Bird wondered if a compromise position would be to issue a certificate authorizing Able to transport patients from the home, hospital, etc. to the airport and vice versa without issuing a blanket Certificate of Need to operate an ambulance service that would be in competition with the hospital. Director Wright advised that the hospital does interfacility medical transfers, i.e., people who have medical need during the transport. The Ambulance Squad does non -emergency transports free of charge for patients not needing medical treatment during transport. Director Wright further advised that emergencies are handled by IRC EMS/ALS employees. After the patient is stabilized at the hospital and transferred to another facility, say Holmes Regional Hospital in Melbourne, they may need medical treatment enroute to the hospital. Commissioner Macht asked if rotorcraft service would compete with fixed -wing transport, and Director Wright explained that rotorcraft requires a certificate because they do pre -hospital ALS/BLS. IRC has an agreement with St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office for rotorcraft services and Holmes Regional has a helicopter that provides assistance on the turnpike as does Orlando Regional. We have used their services several times. Commissioner Macht asked if Able would be competing with these other services, and Director Wright explained that Able has fixed wing aircraft which are regulated by the FAA and the State; they 20