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Ambulances in rural Oklahoma turn to lawmakers

 
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Published: November 26, 2008    Comment on this article Leave a comment

An advisory board Tuesday backed off a proposed rule change that could have further curtailed ambulance service in rural areas of Oklahoma, deciding instead to ask the Legislature for help.

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Betty Roan of Tishomingo was picked to head a subcommittee to appeal to lawmakers to solve what panel members called a crisis in ambulance service. Roan was selected to head up the subcommittee by the Oklahoma Emergency Response System and Development Advisory Committee.

Officials estimate about 50 ambulance companies have closed in mostly rural areas of Oklahoma, leaving many communities without emergency care and transportation for sudden illnesses or injuries.

Some ambulance company representatives said they are losing money because they must serve outlying communities without compensation.

In some instances, ambulance operators said they’ve had to answer an emergency call outside their service area and could not quickly respond to a call within their area.

Despite their concerns, the board voted overwhelmingly against deleting provisions requiring ambulance companies to respond to emergencies outside their areas.

Board member Susan Harper of Buffalo said the change would not solve the problem, and she was uncomfortable with a rule that said, "you’re out of my service area and you’re going to die.”

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Related Topics: Health and Fitness, Emergency Medicine



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