Ambulance boundaries approved

By KEN de la BASTIDE
Tribune enterprise editor

May 08, 2008 10:41 pm

— After years of discussion, Kokomo’s two hospitals have presented an agreement for service area boundary lines to the county.
Howard County commissioners approved Monday the new lines that are intended to reduce response time to all areas of the county.
Last month, commissioners agreed to make the east boundary at 600 East to the Miami County line for the coverage area of Howard Regional Health System. The area would include 600 East north to the Miami County line and from Water Works Road (50 South) south.
Mike Durr, with St. Joseph Hospital, said the hospitals met and reached an agreement.
He said the boundary area to the west would go from Boulevard to 500 West and then south to 150 South to the Carroll County line.
St. Joseph would be the primary responder to the area north of the line and Howard Regional would handle the area to the south.
Howard County does not pay a fee to hospitals for ambulance service. The protocol is that in a critical situation, the ambulance, regardless of which hospital it is affiliated with, is to go to the nearest hospital. In non-critical, situations the patient can request a hospital.
Ken de la Bastide can be reached at (765) 454-8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com