Lifeguard presents its ambulance plan

The Escambia County Health Care Authority is currently studying and reviewing a proposal from Lifeguard on a 90-day contract to provide ambulance service to the Flomaton area, but no deal has been finalized.

The health care authority began receiving proposals to provide ambulance service to Flomaton after Escambia County (Fla.) EMS, stationed in Century, said it was ending its contract to provide service to the Flomaton area. Florida officials did say they would not end the service in Flomaton until a new plan was in place.

Chris Griffin, administrator at D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital in Brewton, said the health care authority received Lifeguard's proposal late last week and it is being studied.

“We want to make sure it matches what we were talking about,” Griffin said. “At this point we haven't replied back on the proposal.”

Griffin said the first priority is to provide ambulance service to the Flomaton area, however the health care authority is also looking at other long-term solutions that could possibly involve Lifeguard providing ambulance service in the Brewton area and possibly county wide.

Lifeguard's proposal was to house an ambulance in Flomaton for 12 hours a day and use mutual aid, possibly with Escambia County, Fla., at other times.

“There are several options,” Griffin said. “First is to deal with Flomaton and then look at other options.”