DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Decatur Ambulance Service has responded to emergencies in Macon County for close to 60 years. But now Arrow Ambulance wants to enter the market too.
Wednesday's public hearing allowed both services and their supporters to state their case once again.
Decatur Ambulance and its owner, Hospital Sisters Health System, say the current level of service exceeds response time goals and provides excellent care.
"[Another provider] is really not needed," said David Burkham, executive director of Decatur Ambulance. "We're meeting all of the response time metrics and quality of care that go on. We just really don't need another ambulance service here."
Arrow Ambulance and Decatur Memorial Hospital agree, but they say another provider would only improve those numbers.
"We believe Decatur Ambulance provides excellent service but we need more service," said Linda Fahey, COO of Decatur Memorial Hospital. "We believe Arrow can bring that to our community."
Both ambulance services and the hospitals backing them say patient care is always the top priority. But differences still remain on whether current level of service would improve — or worsen — if another provider was brought into the fold.
The proposal now heads to the Decatur city council for further consideration.
