El Reno hospital seeking city's help to keep ambulances

EL RENO, Okla. (AP) -- An El Reno hospital loses money every time an ambulance is dispatched.<br/><br/>But Parkview Hospital officials still want to keep the service going.<br/><br/>Administrator Lex Smith

Tuesday, November 2nd 2004, 2:13 pm

By: News On 6

EL RENO, Okla. (AP) -- An El Reno hospital loses money every time an ambulance is dispatched.

But Parkview Hospital officials still want to keep the service going.

Administrator Lex Smith says 50% of emergency transports to the hospital are for patients on Medicare.

Smith says shortages that aren't covered by Medicare reimbursements amounted to $394,000 in losses this past fiscal year.

He says the hospital gets about 58% -- or $470 -- of the $804 it cost for a typical ambulance run.

Hospital officials would like for the city to consider a $5 to $7 subscription fee to utility bills.

But council members noted that a $3.25 rate hike already has increased the minimum monthly bill to nearly $30.