MACON, Ga. (WGXA)-- All week WGXA's Ereina Plunkett has been keeping a pulse on a Bibb County EMS situation, trying to bring you vital information on some of the problems people are facing in the county.
After reports of ambulance wait times exceeding two hours, no ambulances available during emergencies, and questionable hygiene practices according to a mother who wished to remain anonymous, Plunkett wondered if there were any rules governing how EMS services provide care in Bibb County.
WGXA submitted open records request asking if they have any sort of formal contract between Atrium Navient and Community Ambulance, the only two current providers in the county.
The county responded with this statement.
"A diligent search of records/contracts was conducted and yielded no results."
This means, there's no agreement between the county and any entity to provide emergency ambulances to you.
That mom that waited over two hours for an ambulance to save her daughter says she thinks these agencies are operating on their own terms.
"There's nothing governing that? As well as the timeline is concerned, and I understand you can't have a set timeline every time but there should be a boundary set [saying] we're shooting for a goal that's in place to at least meet this standard, if there's no standard set then were just operating rogue and were supposed to be grateful," the mom said.
Plunkett took her concerns to several Commissioners to hear what they have to say.
Among them, Plunkett spoke with Commissioner Elaine Lucas who says the last discussion about modifying ambulance services happened nearly 20 years ago.
"It had to be 20 years ago when we actually had a discussion about ambulance services and the zones that they can operate in but there's not been any discussion over the last several years," Lucas said.
With resident concerns coming in Lucas says she is open to a discussion.
"If citizens are saying they have to wait that unusual or unnecessary length of time for an ambulance service then I think that we as elected officials owe it to them to have a discussion and look at it, so we can follow up with the appropriate people," Lucas said.
But Commissioner Valerie Wynn says governing these private entities could open the door for the county government to take a hit.
"I'm not sure how to put this... if we start getting into their business and telling them what to do, is that going to hold us liable, is that going to hold us liable if they don't do something right, are we going to be liable if they don't get there in one hour or two I'm not sure how that would work,” Wynn said.
As elected officials mull over the legal ramifications if the county gets involved – the question remains – will an ambulance be there for you and your loved ones in time during your most desperate time of need?
WGXA reached out to the Mayor's office if they would consider getting on board with a county-operated ambulance and they responded by saying the solution lies in more recruitment to have more hands behind the wheel.