‘Nothing Signed, Sealed Or Delivered’
Multi-Township Emergency Medical Service, a private emergency medical service, has not signed any agreement or made a decision with any company regarding a possible merger. There has been a meeting called to discuss such a merger with Community Health Systems.
The meeting, which is for the board of directors and membership board, is set for 7 p.m. Monday, June 22, in the Munson Building, Warsaw. This meeting is not open to the public.
“We are in the talking stage, nothing as been signed, sealed or delivered,” stated Tony Doyle, operations division chief for MTEMS.
Doyle stated CHS approached MTEMS regarding a merger. “Due to the increase in health care, we need to do something,” stated Doyle. The cost to run the service, maintain equipment, pay employees, provide health insurance, according to Doyle has increased and it’s hard for a small company to operate.
A merger may lower the cost of service, not only for the towns and townships served, but patients as well. The financial operation of the service is the only thing to be affected. The sole purpose, according to Doyle, is to save money.
Currently MTEMS is receiving a flat fee per town/township served.
He explained the meeting will just be an explanation of a potential merger and a history of the service.
The board of directors is comprised of individuals from the county, hospital and townships covered. The membership board is comprised of representatives of the 15 towns and townships served.
Doyle said, should there be a merger with Community Health Systems or any other hospital affiliation, service provided by MTEMS will not change, it will be business as usual. “We will still take you where you want to be,” said Doyle.
Community Health Systems is the parent company of Kosciusko Community Hospital and Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne.