Without a local hospital, the citizens of Jessamine County do not have access to the most basic of all services - health care. This is unacceptable. Jessamine County has one of the finest emergency medical response systems in the Commonwealth. The lack of local hospital services, however, is dangerous for Jessamine County citizens who experience medical emergencies and have to travel to Lexington hospitals to receive care. Instead of being treated close to home at a hospital in our own community, Jessamine County residents generally go to Fayette County, which can mean a 45 minute trip. This is far too long when someone is critically ill or injured and a few minutes may make the difference between life and death. Even though Fayette County borders Jessamine County, none of the Fayette County hospitals are close enough to address the needs of Jessamine County residents for emergency medical services in an acceptable manner.
Jessamine needs hospital
Jessamine County is one of the largest counties in Kentucky without a hospital. This is unfair to Jessamine County residents. We deserve local access to hospital services.
Gov. Ernie Fletcher currently has the ability to issue a regulation that would permit a hospital to be built in Jessamine County by declaring an emergency or amending the existing Certificate of Need regulation. While Associated Health Care Systems of Jessamine County, LLC has already filed requests for permission to address the need for a hospital with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, a strong community-wide message must also be sent to the governor about the medical crisis that Jessamine County citizens face on a daily basis. We need Jessamine County citizens to call, write, and e-mail Gov. Fletcher, Secretary Birdwhistell, and local legislators. Together, we can all make the dream of a local hospital in Jessamine County a reality.
John P. Martin,
Mayor, City of Nicholasville
William Neal Cassity,
Jessamine County Judge-Executive
Harold L. Rainwater,
Mayor, City of Wilmore
Nancy S. Stone,
Executive Director Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce
Wayne Foster,
President Jessamine County Economic Development Authority
