FAYETTEVILLE -- Central EMS officials plan to have a preliminary cost estimate for them to take over dispatch service for Springdale's fire and ambulance services by Sept. 21.
Springdale officials brought up the idea of having Central EMS dispatch for them in July.
History
Central EMS began as a nonprofit organization in 1980 and was a joint effort between Washington Regional Medical Center and Washington County. The resulting Emergency Medical Service focused on responding paramedic level ambulances to Fayetteville and Washington County.The Washington County Regional Ambulance Authority was formed in 2009 and became the organizational structure for Central EMS.
Source: Central EMS
Next meeting
The Washington County Regional Ambulance Authority Executive Committee will meet at 5 p.m. Sept. 21, at EMS Station 1.
Source: Staff report
The move would mean a centralized emergency dispatch that would allow dispatchers to more easily send the closest ambulance, said Becky Stewart, Central EMS chief. The centralized system could be more efficient and benefit residents, officials said.
It also could take a toll on an ambulance service still adjusting after a major expansion of its services in January, when Springdale stopped serving part of rural Washington County, Tontitown, Elm Springs and part of Johnson, said David Dayringer, Fayetteville fire chief and chairman of the ambulance services' executive committee.
"We're still kind of scrambling from the last expansion we had when they pulled out," Dayringer said during the executive committee meeting Wednesday.
The ambulance service bought property, created more stations, bought more ambulances and continued to hire and train more people to meet demands since the expansion.
Jimmie Barham Beauchamp, a committee member representing Washington Regional Medical Center, said she supported helping Springdale but not if it hurts Central EMS. The ambulance service has the technology and logistics to take over, Stewart said.
The ambulance service has built itself up without Springdale's help, Dayringer said. Central EMS dispatch is the only 911 center in the state certified by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, officials said. The nonprofit group is a "standard-setting organization promoting safe and effective emergency dispatch services worldwide," according to its website.
Springdale has "service gaps" related to "reliability" with increased fire department calls, according to the department's 2014-19 Strategic Plan posted online.
Springdale Fire Chief Mike Irwin was not at the meeting Wednesday and did not return a message left on his cellphone by deadline Wednesday night.
Dayringer said he was unsure why Springdale needed Central EMS to take over dispatch service or whether Central EMS should do it. Springdale has had its own ambulance service roughly 60 years, said Steve Harrison, Central EMS assistant chief.
A dispatch center at the Springdale Police Department dispatches calls for the Fire Department and answers 911 calls for fire, medical emergencies and crimes.
Central EMS dispatches for fire and medical emergency calls for entities that have signed an interlocal agreement and join the Washington County Regional Ambulance Authority. Member cities are Fayetteville, Washington County, Elkins, Farmington, Goshen, Greenland, Lincoln, Prairie Grove, West Fork, Winslow, Johnson, Tontitown and Elm Springs.
Springdale would have to pay the costs for extra employees, space and equipment, if Central EMS takes over the city's dispatch, Harrison said. Other cities also pay membership dues.
The final cost to Springdale would be set by authority, Stewart said.
Nothing was decided Wednesday, and there was no deadline set. Officials are still in the early stages of dialogue, Stewart said.
NW News on 08/25/2016