Rural Pittsburg County ambulance service owner appealing judge's decision

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- The owner of a Pittsburg County ambulance service is appealing an administrative law judge's decision that would shut down the company by April 4.<br><br>Pam Smith, owner of

Saturday, March 27th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- The owner of a Pittsburg County ambulance service is appealing an administrative law judge's decision that would shut down the company by April 4.

Pam Smith, owner of Para Med Ambulance Service, said she is appealing the ruling that would close the private ambulance company that provides service to Pittsburg County and southern McIntosh County.

Para Med was ordered to close its doors after the administrative law judge found the company had used a non-paramedic crew in 2003 to transfer a patient in respiratory distress from a nursing home to McAlester Regional Health Center.

Since the ambulance service was licensed at the paramedic level, a paramedic should have been on the crew, according to Shawn Rogers, director of emergency medical services for the Oklahoma Department of Health.

"In both of those cases I had a doctor's permission to use a non-paramedic crew," Smith said. "Out of about 2,200 runs last year, they found two (where) there was something they didn't agree with and they're trying to shut us down? Something's wrong with this picture."

Para Med operates a station in McAlester, as well as a substation in Eufaula. The Para Med substation is the only local ambulance service for people living in Eufaula and Longtown.

Community Hospital Lakeview, the Eufaula hospital, closed its ambulance service in February.

Eufaula Mayor Dean Smith said he hopes Para Med wins its appeal.

"If they're not successful, well have to depend on ambulance service from the south, in McAlester, or from the north, in Checotah," Smith said. "It's going to be bad for the people of this area."

The McAlester Fire Department operates an ambulance service, but patients in McAlester take precedent over patients outside the city limits.

"Our obligation is to the citizens of McAlester for emergency medical services," said Fire Chief Joe Benson.

"That has to be my priority, but we will not refuse emergency services if we have the resources."