After convalescent transports were put in turmoil last year with the sudden folding of Johnston Ambulance Service (JAS), Sampson County has weathered the storm and now steadied the ship with another contract in place.

The EMS Advisory Board met in early May to consider applications from two providers, LifeStar Emergency Services LLC of Winston-Salem and North State Medical Transport (NSMT) out of Garner, wishing to move forward with both so a backup could be in place. LifeStar ultimately tabled its application, deeming it financially unfeasible to provide services, so the EMS Advisory Board recommended a franchise be awarded to North State Medical Transport.

The Sampson Board of Commissioners authorized award of the contract to North State during a recent meeting.

North State officials said the aim in Sampson, as with their other counties, is to assist with non-emergent BLS (basic life support) and ALS (advanced life support)-level transports.

“NSMT would be able to assist in transports ranging from transporting a nursing home patient to their doctor’s appointment, to discharging a vent patient back home from Sampson Regional,” stated Carlie Coward, director of business development for NSMT. “I believe we would continue to be a great asset to your county system and would give Sampson Regional and the various nursing homes in Sampson County another option to call for local transports.”

Since Sept. 1, 2016, following the abrupt closure of JAS, convalescent transports in Sampson County have been in flux, prompting county officials to seek a return to a more steady service. JAS abruptly ceased providing services under their franchise with Sampson and many other counties, giving 24 hours’ notice of their closing. Temporary contracts were inked with five separate agencies to offer transports to local patients and Sampson County Emergency Management officials worked with volunteer rescue organizations to provide convalescent services in the interim.

Under its franchise, JAS provided between 300-350 non-emergency transports per month in Sampson, including taking patients to and from the hospital and nursing home facilities, inter-hospital transports and transporting patients to doctors’ appointments or dialysis.

From Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 of last year, there were 1,103 transports completed by five temporary contractors to offer advanced and basic life support, including Cape Fear Valley Health System’s Lifelink (364); Pender EMS (260); Bladen EMS (164); and LifeStar (168). North State was signed to a temporary contract, but performed on a limited basis.

Local volunteer squads also conducted 144 transports. There were just four convalescent transports conducted by Sampson County EMS through the end of 2016 compared to 36 in January 2017 alone. Emergency Management director Ronald Bass again thanked volunteer rescue squads and others for “stepping up” in the interim period.

Bass told county commissioners earlier this year that there were two options for transports. The first was for the county to take on its own transports, which would necessitate additional staff and equipment. The other option was to franchise with a private company for convalescent service. There is no cost to the county, and no revenue generated, with the latter.

“It won’t cost the county anything and the county won’t make anything on it,” Bass noted. The board decided to seek the private company, which ended up being North State.

Bryan Perry, chief operating officer for North State, said the company has operated for 12 years and currently handles transports in eight counties, the closest being Johnston.

“We operate at the basic level in some counties, and at the paramedic level in other counties,” Perry stated. “We’re here for the citizens. Your citizens should expect good service, and we plan to give it.”

Bryan Perry, chief operating officer for North State Medical Transport, left, and Emergency Management director Ronald Bass talk about convalescent transports in the county during a recent Board of Commissioners meeting.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_medtranspo.jpgBryan Perry, chief operating officer for North State Medical Transport, left, and Emergency Management director Ronald Bass talk about convalescent transports in the county during a recent Board of Commissioners meeting.

By Chris Berendt

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Reach Managing Editor Chris Berendt at 910-249-4616. Follow the paper on twitter @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.