Ambulance

Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center has restricted access to the ambulance entrance of its emergency department. Generally, patients not transported by ambulance and visitors will no longer be able to enter the department through the sliding doors, but instead may use the adjacent outpatient entrance. "We are implementing restricted access to the ambulance entrance as a safety and security measure not only for our employees but also for our patients," said Harry Nickens, spokesman.

The Clark County Fiscal Court gave Winchester Fire-EMS a green light Wednesday to apply a cost-of-living price increase to the department's ambulance fee schedule. Under the new fee schedule, the price for basic life support services jumps from $400 to $500, advanced life support services rise from $600 to $700, the price for advanced life support level 2 services increases from $700 to $800, and special care transport services swell from $750 to $850. Also, the loaded mileage rate increases from $8.50 per mile to $11 per mile.

The Winchester Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a request from Winchester Fire-EMS on Tuesday to apply a cost-of-living increase to the department's ambulance fee schedule. Under the new fees, the price for basic life support services increases from $400 to $500, advanced life support services jumps from $600 to $700, the price for advanced life support level 2 services increases from $700 to $800 and special care transport services rises from $750 to $850. Also the loaded mileage rate increases from $8.50 per mile to $11 per mile.

Danville police responded Wednesday to a house on Shawnee Road after a resident reported that a man with a pistol punched him and knocked him down before running away. Junquera Ricardo said he was letting out two of his dogs about 10:50 a.m. when the incident occurred. Ricardo told police the bigger of his dogs bit the suspect, who then fled on foot through the back yard. Nothing was taken. Ricardo complained of pain in his right knee and shoulder and was taken to the hospital by a relative to be checked out. Police and ambulance units were dispatched to the scene and were scattered around Shawnee Road near Greenleaf Centre.

Seriously sick or injured persons in Lincoln County who require transportation by a medevac helicopter will now have to wait longer for the "chopper" to arrive. That's because around-the-clock LifeNet Air Medical services at the Boyle County Airport in Junction City stopped operating last month. Lincoln County is now covered by medevac services in Lexington and Somerset. "We're talking minutes, but given some life-threatening injuries, minutes can make the difference between life and death," said Harry Nickens, Vice President for Community Relations at Ephraim McDowell Health.

LIBERTY - The Casey County Ambulance Service was awarded a $32,900 grant Thursday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use for the purchase of three new LifePak-12 defibrillators. "The Casey County Ambulance Service continues to do a fantastic job protecting the health and safety of residents throughout the communities in Casey County," said U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, who announced the grant. "These new defibrillators allow Casey County's first responders to continue providing top-notch emergency care.

After being free on bond for two years and nine months, Jack Caldwell Sr. was hauled back into custody via ambulance Tuesday morning. Caldwell was delivered by family members to the Boyle County Courthouse, where an ambulance was waiting to carry him to Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center on the grounds of the state penitentiary at La Grange. Caldwell, 82 and in failing health, is charged in the August 2004 murder of his neighbor Jim Trachsel. He was ordered back into custody by Boyle Circuit Judge Darren Peckler to undergo mental and physical evaluations to determine his ability to stand trial.

A ride in a Boyle County ambulance will cost $150 more beginning June 1. Fiscal court raised the rates Tuesday during a budget workshop as a way to generate more revenue for the upcoming fiscal year. The rates will increase from $200 to $350 for an ambulance transport that requires basic life support services, such as transfer from Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center to another hospital. The cost of an ambulance trip that requires advanced life support, such as from an accident or other traumatic event, will go up from $500 to $650.

Clark County firefighters move one of three victims of a three vehicle accident on Lexington Road at Hud Road to a waiting ambulance early Monday morning. One person from the accident was airlifted to Lexington from Clark Regional Medical Center. Additional information was not available at press time.

Jessamine County Emergency Services will soon be getting a new ambulance, a move that was approved by the fiscal court last week. Emergency Services Director Wendel Hatfield said the new ambulance will bring the number of ambulances up to nine, and will make the ambulance fleet fully complete. Hatfield said there are usually eight ambulances in service, and after the new one arrives, one of the old vehicles will be retired. He added that it takes that many emergency vehicles to take care of the needs of all Jessamine residents.