As County Struggles, Kan. System Turns to Other Transport Options

The Wichita Eagle

One of Wichita's largest healthcare systems dealt a blow to Sedgwick County's struggling ambulance service, announcing plans to break with the county and hire a private ambulance company starting next month.

Wesley Healthcare is set to begin contracting with American Medical Response (AMR) on March 1 for patient transfers between Wesley-owned medical facilities. Those transfers have been a financially important part of the county's EMS budget for decades and were seen as a key piece to rebuilding a department that has faced high turnover and slow response times.

Wesley accounts for 77% of interfacility hospital transfers (4,873 in 2020) done by EMS and 7.8% of the county's EMS income. In 2021, Wesley paid Sedgwick County $1,429,341.40.

The Wichita Eagle first reported the potential deal in December. At the time, Sedgwick County officials said the county remained in negotiations with Wesley.

It remains unclear whether the move is allowed under an agreement between the city of Wichita and Sedgwick County EMS that designates the county as the exclusive provider of all ambulance services in the city limits.

On Thursday, County Manager Tom Stolz said Sedgwick County has asked the city of Wichita to review the licensing requirements and limitations set forth in that agreement.

"If Wesley pulls all their transports, it will diminish revenue to county by over a million a year ($1.4M in 2021)," Stolz said in a written statement. "This would also diminish a good (percentage) of the EMS total call load, so we will have to assess the financial impact to the county based on that lost revenue vs. the staffing needs going forward."

To operate an ambulance company in Wichita requires a license with the city.

"Neither Wesley nor AMR have applied to the City for a license for this service," city spokesperson Megan Lovely said in an email.

A Wichita city ordinance on ambulances indicates that a licensing decision might ultimately fall to the Sedgwick County Commission. The ordinance says operating an ambulance service in Wichita requires approval by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, which shifted authority for ambulance licensing to the Wichita-Sedgwick County Board of Health, which has since been absorbed into the County Commission.

In its news release, Wesley said AMR will operate under Wesley's license. The private company will be based out of Wesley Woodlawn Hospital and Emergency Room, Wesley West Emergency Room and Wesley Derby Emergency Room.

"This service will make the internal transportation of patients between Wesley facilities a more seamless process," Bill Voloch, president and CEO of Wesley Healthcare, said in the news release. "It also will provide greater continuity of care for our patients overall."

The switch to a private company comes after former EMS director Dr. John Gallagher — who resigned amid controversy in July — attempted to hike prices for Wesley interfacility transports by 31% in 2022, part of a move that was expected to increase EMS revenue by nearly $800,000 a year and help it rebuild.

Under Gallagher, 93 paramedics and EMTs left the department, resulting in dangerously slower response times. It's unclear from response times records how Wesley's interfacility transport times changed under Gallagher; Sedgwick County redacted that information in response to the Kansas Open Records Act.

Sedgwick County EMS has traditionally charged $328.35 for each of those transfers and had proposed charging $478.15.

Wesley did not agree to the new costs and has been paying its previous rates since the proposal, Sedgwick County spokesman Akeam Ashford previously told the Eagle.

Sedgwick County EMS continues providing transportation between medical facilities for Ascension Via Christi, which has about one-fifth as many patient transfers as Wesley.

AMR will have three ambulances staffed by eight paramedics and eight emergency medical technicians, the Wesley news release said. One of the ambulances, based at Wesley Woodlawn, will be available 24 hours a day.

Craig Isom, AMR program director, said the company is still accepting applications for paramedics to help support this new service. Job postings have been available on the AMR website since December.

"AMR provides competitive benefits packages that include health insurance, disability insurance and retirement plans with a company match," Isom said in the release. "The company also offers paid time off, holiday pay and tuition reimbursement. New employees are also eligible for career and leadership development programs and several voluntary benefits packages including banking, legal, auto, home, accident and more."