Jackson City Council will host hearing on city's ambulance service

A public hearing on the future of the city’s ambulance governance will take place during the Jackson City Council meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 at Jackson's City Hall.

A statement from Jackson Mayor Marcus Polz shared on the city's website and on social media encouraged the public to offer feedback. While "recognizing the skill and dedication of the men and women serving on the Jackson Ambulance crew," he added that it's important to ask "whether our system is meeting Jackson’s needs in the most reliable and sustainable way."

Polz wrote in his statement: "One area that deserves renewed attention is inter facility transfers getting patients from our local hospital to a higher level of care such as Sioux Falls. In a community where the hospital provides primarily basic treatment, that transfer capability has long been one of the greatest strengths of our ambulance service. ... In the past year that reliability has slipped. 

"Internal activity reports suggest more than a hundred transfers have been declined this year," Polz continued. "Each case represents a neighbor who waited longer for another crew or required costly air transport that could have been handled locally. ALS certification adds advanced capability, but it also creates staffing and cost pressures that sometimes limit availability for these crucial transfers. These are not criticisms of our personnel; they are questions about how we balance capability, cost and coverage."

Polz also added that the city budgeted roughly $1.2 million for its ambulance fund this year, while revenues to date are around $300,000. His entire statement can be read at www.cityofjacksonmn.com/mayoral_statements.