UNICOI COUNTY’S E-M-S CONTRACTOR EMERGYSTATE LOST ITS MEDICAL LIABILITY INSURANCE LAST WEEK, FORCING IT TO SHUTDOWN. THIS LEFT THE COUNTY WITHOUT ANY AMBULANCE SERVICE. AT A MEETING YESTERDAY, COUNTY LEADERS TALKED ABOUT A POSSIBLE INDEPENDENT AMBULATORY SERVICE. IN THE MEANTIME, WASHINGTON AND CARTER COUNTIES HAVE STEPPED IN TO HELP OUT WITH TEMPORARY EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR UNICOI COUNTY. ACCORDING TO JIMMY ERWIN, WHO SERVES ON THE AMBULANCE COMMITTEE, AN INDEPENDENT, COUNTY-OWNED AND OPERATED SERVICE WOULD BELONG TO THE COUNTY AND THE RESIDENTS OF UNICOI COUNTY…..

CART.. ERWIN

HAVING ITS OWN INDEPENDENT AMBULANCE SERVICE WOULDN’T COME ABOUT CHEAP FOR THE COUNTY. OFFICIALS ESTIMATE SUCH A VENTURE WOULD COST AROUND A MILLION DOLLARS. THE COMMITTEE WILL PRESENT ITS IDEAS TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION AT NEXT WEEK’S REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING. erwin.mp3