Changes in emergency medical services could be in store for Brookshire residents unless a last-minute compromise can be worked out to retain the locally-operated EMS system that has served the city since 1975.
Mayor Joey Vaughn has proposed contracting the city’s emergency medical service with Houston-based PatientCare EMS, a private company, instead of renewing the contract with the nonprofit Brookshire EMS.
The contract with Brookshire EMS expires Dec. 31.
At issue is money, with the city saying it cannot pay the $145,000 budget Brookshire EMS says it needs to keep operating. At last Thursday’s council meeting, Vaughn said he had been in negotiation with PatientCare and they would be willing to provide a similar level of service for $65,000 per year.
“We sat down and looked at the budget. Unfortunately, I could not find any way to make (the Brookshire EMS contract renewal) work,” Vaughn told the council “I have been in negotiation with other services and they say they can do it for $65,000.”
Vaughn said PatientCare indicated they would provide the same level of care – along with two ambulances staffed at all times – as is currently being provided by Brookshire EMS. PatientCare would rent a building in Brookshire from which to operate.
“They will be here 24 hours at all times. Basically, everything that’s in the contact now,” Vaughn said.
Council members, however, seemed skeptical of the proposal, as did a number of Brookshire EMS personnel who were present for the meeting.
“For $65,000? It can’t be,” veteran Council Member Marilyn Vaughn said.
City Attorney Art Pertile told the council PatientCare had pledged to perform all services in the current contract.
“They say they can perform the same services and do it for $65, 000,” Pertile said.
“Let them; they’ll never be able to do it,” one Brookshire EMS staffer said from the audience. “If they make it a year, they’ll never renew (the contract).”
Vaughn pressed the council to give him and Pertile authority to sign the contract; however, council members seemed hesitant to follow the mayor’s recommendation.
Marilyn Vaughn said she could not vote on a contract she had not seen.
“I would rather see it myself, do some research on the company myself,” she said. “That’s how I feel.”
The current EMS staff is comprised of 12 paid emergency medical technicians, supported by volunteer EMTs who live in Brookshire. Councilman Lyndon Stamps asked if Brookshire EMS could reduce the number of paid personnel.
“Is there any way you can cut some people? We want to make this (contract renewal) happen,” Stamps said.
Brookshire EMS personnel said that, at one time, there were enough volunteers to meet the needs of the community. Now, however, there simply were not enough local residents willing and able to make the commitment to serve as volunteer medical technicians. For that reason, they have had to contract with paid EMTs from other areas – including Katy and Austin County – to help staff the ambulances.
Brookshire medics also questioned whether PatientCare could, in fact, provide the same level of care for such a significantly-reduced price. They said they were concerned whether the ambulances used by the private firm were Mobile Intensive Care Units, and whether the level of emergency medical certification held by PatientCare personnel were comparable to current levels.
Pertile again stressed PatientCare would have to meet the same standards set forth in the current contract with Brookshire EMS.
“They will sign this contract or it will come back to the council if there are any substantial changes,” Pertile said.
Council members remained skeptical, struggling to find a way to keep the Brookshire EMS under contract.
“Is there any way we can sit down and find a way to come together?” Mayor Pro-Tem Warren Connor asked.
Following an extended discussion, the council tabled any action on the contract until a special meeting could be held to review the specifics of the PatientCare contract.
That meeting is tentatively scheduled for tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. at Brookshire City Hall.
