Hospital to help with JEMS review

Jay Emergency Medical Service will be getting reviewed.
Dave Hyatt, CEO of Jay County Hospital, told Jay County Commissioners Faron Parr, Jim Zimmerman and Doug Inman Monday that the hospital, with help from IU Health, will conduct a data analysis of JEMS and its operations.
Inman said he had reached out to Hyatt to see if there was anything the hospital could do to help with the service, which has been the focus of ongoing county budget discussions.
Hyatt described the review as a project that will look at the operations from both a business and clinical standpoint and examine data to see what improvements and efficiencies can be made and to “give you guys some good data to make decisions around JEMS so you really know what’s going on there.”
“Obviously, JEMS is very important to the hospital. Not just the hospital but all the patients in Jay County,” Hyatt said. “So, we’re very invested as the hospital on how do we help make sure that it running as well as it can and as smooth as it can and being a good partner for the community.”
JEMS, because of financial woes, has been a leading topic at Jay County Budget Committee meetings in the past few months.
JEMS was $146,817 in the red in 2015, and has been helped via the rainy day fund ($300,000 in 2010, $400,000 in 2014 and $44,098 annually for a paramedic salary and benefits since February 2014).
Hyatt was bullish on the help IU Health can provide.
“IU Health operates several EMS services throughout the state and their leadership is willing to come in, no charge, and help us look at the data, look at best practices because they’re going to know, ‘Are you charging the right amount?’
“‘Are you staffing at the right levels?’,” Hyatt said. “They operate services like this in other counties like ours. They operate EMS services in Blackford County and several other counties.”
Hyatt emphasized multiple times during his discussion with commissioners that he hopes the analysis provided helps with decisions regarding JEMS.
“So hopefully, in the spirit of partnership, we can get a better picture of any improvements,” he said.
Parr expressed satisfaction with that possibility.
“You can’t make a decision until you gather the data and you can’t gather the data until you start talking about it and asking for help,” he said.
The analysis won’t just look for ways to cut costs from JEMS. Hyatt noted that the hospital’s review may look at new services JEMS could provide to generate revenue.
He mentioned for-profit medical services are making money with transfers from nursing homes. He also brought up “paramedicine,” which includes paramedics checking on patients with chronic diseases.
“Is there revenue associated with that? Probably. So, it’s not just getting more efficient and lean. It’s how do we grow and maybe provide new services,” Hyatt said.
Hyatt did not provide a specific timetable Monday, but said he expects the review to take several weeks. He said he and a representative from IU Health will meet with JEMS officials to get the process underway.
Meanwhile, commissioners heard from county engineer Dan Watson, who told them he is having issues with his county vehicle. Watson said his 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer has 190,000 miles and he thinks the transmission is starting to slip.
He said he is looking in the $15,000 to $21,000 range to purchase a replacement vehicle. Commissioners told Watson to go forward with getting bids and acquiring information on a possible new or used vehicle.
Watson also told commissioners he got a report back from Indiana Department of Transportation, which did a study on reducing the speed limit on Votaw Street (Indiana 67) near Wal-Mart and Jay County Hospital in Portland. Watson said there are plans to reduce the speed limit to 35 mph from the current 45 mph beginning at Canterbury Lane.
“It’ll make a difference,” Watson said, noting the prevalence of accidents on the stretch of road.
In other business, commissioners:
•Discussed a recent phone conversation between Inman, county attorney Bill Hinkle and Gary Gildersleeve. Inman said Gildersleeve, who has land in trust to him that the county would need to acquire to execute the recent flood plan presented by Butler, Fairman and Suefert, did not say yes or no to the possibility of giving up the land. However, Inman said Gildersleeve indicated he is willing to work with the county. Inman suggested Monday the possibility of swapping county land near the county garage for Gildersleeve’s property.