PORT TOWNSEND – Jefferson Healthcare hospital’s need for transportation of patients to other hospitals has outpaced its present system, said Jim DeCianne, director of emergency services.
That’s why he is seeking a solution that could entail a formal contract with both East Jefferson Fire-Rescue and private business LifeLink for the use of ambulances and paramedics to transport patients.
“Some days you need three or four ambulance runs. Some days you need zero,” DeCianne said.
The hospital’s primary ambulance transportation now comes from a local private business called LifeLink.
It is an on-call 24-hour service, but even though it has four ambulances, it has the personnel to staff only one of the emergency vehicles at a time, said LifeLink manager and co-owner Greg Walsh.
“At this point in time, we have no formal agreement with LifeLink or the fire department,” DeCianne said.
He said that in the past two years, because of an aging Jefferson County population, the need for more runs to Harrison Hospital in Bremerton and Harborview Medical Center in Seattle has increased.
“We have made every effort to support private enterprise,” DeCianne said.
“That includes LifeLink.
“Unfortunately, our needs have outpaced LifeLink’s abilities.”
