Kane County Hospital Halts Ambulance Service to Northern Arizona

Categories: Arizona Business NewsArizona State News

Local residents express concerns outside Kane County Hospital following the suspension of ambulance services to northern Arizona.

News Summary

Kane County Hospital in Kanab, Utah, has stopped its ambulance service to northern Arizona after failing to secure necessary permissions from state authorities. This cessation affects communities like Fredonia and Jacobs Lake, leading to concerns over emergency medical response times which could exceed one hour. After providing services for over 40 years, the hospital’s inability to obtain a Certificate of Necessity from the Arizona Department of Health Services raises alarming public safety issues in the region. Local officials are exploring options for emergency care in the interim.

Utah – Kane County Hospital in Kanab, Utah, has halted its ambulance service to northern Arizona due to the inability to secure necessary permissions from Arizona authorities. The decision significantly impacts several communities along the Utah-Arizona state line, specifically Fredonia, Jacobs Lake, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has denied Kane County’s recent application for a Certificate of Necessity (CON), which is essential for ambulance operators in Arizona. This denial has raised concerns within the affected communities, as they worry about the availability and response times of emergency medical services.

Kane County Hospital has provided emergency services in Arizona for more than 40 years, operating at the request of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the National Park Service, and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. With the cessation of service, residents are facing an alarming reality: emergency response times could exceed one hour, which poses serious public safety risks.

The hospital’s CEO highlighted that the CON application process has been ongoing for more than three years. Numerous obstacles have hindered the progress of their application. A formal complaint initiated by the Page Fire Department regarding the legality of Kane County’s operations has led to an investigation against the hospital.

Despite the challenges faced by Kane County, Arizona officials emphasize that other emergency service providers are available in the region. The Colorado City and Page fire departments can respond to emergencies in the Fredonia area, along with nearby air ambulance services. However, with the nearest ambulance service located over 30 miles away in Colorado City, many residents are left anxious about delays in receiving vital medical support.

Residents expressed their frustrations during a recent town hall meeting where concerns about the potential repercussions of losing the ambulance service were discussed in detail. The mood at the meeting revealed heightened sensitivity around the possibility of emergencies occurring without timely assistance. Search and rescue operations, especially in remote areas like the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, also raise concerns about response times and accessibility.

Currently, the ADHS continues to work with Kane County to address identified deficiencies in the CON application, although they did not provide any timeline for a potential resolution. Meanwhile, Kane County Hospital has announced its willingness to resume services as soon as the necessary permissions from Arizona are granted.

The situation creates a pressing need for local authorities and healthcare providers to address the gap in emergency medical coverage, ensuring that residents have access to timely and effective medical care when they need it most. The community is left in a state of uncertainty as they await further developments in the ongoing process.

As it stands, individuals living in the affected areas of northern Arizona face a profound challenge to their public safety, marking a significant disruption to a long-established emergency service that has been a vital component of healthcare in the region.