Agreement reached for Benton County ambulance service

The contract covers EMS services for the fire districts in Sulphur Springs, Gravette, Maysville, Gentry and Gallatin, and Gentry and Decatur.

BENTONVILLE — Benton County has reached a three-year agreement to provide ambulance service to the rural areas on the west side of the county.

County Judge Barry Moehring unveiled the agreement Tuesday which is a collaboration between the county, Gentry, Decatur and Northwest Health Emergency Medical Services to serve western county residents.

The agreement will place three Advanced Life Support ambulances on the west side of the county while saving Benton County residents more than $195,000, Moehring said.

Moehring described the new agreement as a money-saver and big win for residents.

The contract covers EMS services for the fire districts in Sulphur Springs, Gravette, Maysville, Gentry and Gallatin, and Gentry and Decatur.

Gravette will continue to provide emergency medical services within Gravette and Sulphur Springs, Moehring said.

The contract between Benton County and Northwest Health Emergency Medical Services will begin Jan. 1.

“We are going to have more ambulances on the west side for a lower cost,” Moehring said.

The county currently contracts with Siloam Springs and Gravette for emergency medical service on the west side of unincorporated Benton County. The costs between the county and the two cities have increased from $85,000 to $623,717, Moehring said.

The new agreement with Northwest Health Emergency Medical Services is $292,705 per year for three years with options for extensions, Moehring said.

Under the new contract Northwest Health will be placing an ambulance in Gentry and in Gravette, Moehring said.

A Northwest Health ambulance stationed at Siloam Springs Regional Hospital will also help cover 911 calls which will expand emergency medical service coverage in the region, Moehring said.

Northwest Health will be providing air medical services through AirEvac, according to a news release from the county.

Siloam Springs will maintain an agreement with Benton County for emergency medical service coverage in the Siloam Springs Fire District which is a reduction in the territory currently covered which includes Gentry, Gallatin, part of the Decatur and part of the Highfill fire districts in addition to Siloam Springs district, according to Moehring.

The new agreement with Siloam Springs is $141,000 per year, which is a reduction from the current $429,000, Moehring said. Siloam Springs is providing emergency medical service for a smaller area in the new agreement which reduces the length of their runs and the costs, Moehring said.

Moehring expects the new contract to reduce response time for residents in the western portion of the county.

The agreement includes three-year contracts between Gentry, Decatur and Northwest Health and Decatur will pay Northwest Health $35,750 per year and Gentry will agree to pay Northwest Heath $72,150 per year for three years, according to the release.

Decatur contracts with Gravette for emergency medical service while Gentry contracts with Siloam Springs, according to the contract.

Gentry Fire Chief Vester Cripps said the addition of service for all of western Benton County will improve the community’s well-being and will provide a great service and reduce response time for Gentry residents.

Decatur Mayor Bob Tharp said he’s pleased with the agreement.

“Decatur is a community that has a large number of industrial workers employed in our town at any time,” Tharp said. “That number increases our current population , so having a stronger ALS service presence will be good. With the projected growth for the cities of Decatur and Gentry, this proposal will enable our cities to provide medical services to our constituents and visitors for the future.”

Gentry Mayor Kevin Johnson said the incorporation of emergency medical services from Northwest Health with existing services in western Benton County means residents could experience a more rapid response to their medical needs.

“We’ve been blessed to serve Benton County residents for many years with two hospitals and numerous clinics located in the county,” Northwest Health CEO Denten Park said. “We are excited about this new partnership with the county to expand emergency service capabilities for citizens in these communities. To ensure the highest level of care and expand treatment options, we’re proud to provide three advanced life support ambulances with placement to improve response times to the western corridor of Benton County.”

The county has been negotiating with Northwest Health System since May to be the sole ambulance provider for the area covered by Siloam Springs and Gravette.