Wood County Commission President Blair Couch, left, speaks during a county Ambulance Authority meeting Friday morning at the 911 Center as authority members, from left, Dale McEwuen, Patsy Hardy and William C. Arnold listen. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Commission plans to purchase half a dozen ambulances to assist WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center in providing emergency coverage once St. Joseph’s Ambulance Service shuts down.

Commission President Blair Couch made the announcement Friday at a meeting of the county’s newly established Ambulance Authority, where a Camden Clark representative said they’ve arranged to acquire another vehicle and hired more than two dozen new employees.

“The crisis has been resolved,” Couch said.

St. Joseph’s Ambulance announced Monday it would cease operations on March 31, citing Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements not keeping pace with costs.

Marjean Kennedy, vice president of marketing, business development and strategy for Camden Clark, said at least five ambulances and 35 personnel were needed to provide coverage for emergency ambulance calls.

Marjean Kennedy, right, WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center vice president of marketing, business development and strategy, discusses the hospital’s efforts to acquire additional ambulances and hire more personnel as St. Joseph’s Ambulance Service prepares to close during a meeting of the Wood County Ambulance Authority Friday at the 911 Center. Also pictured are authority members, from left, Patsy Hardy, William C. Arnold and Susannah Sellers. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“The five will be just to meet the status quo,” she said. “We know there’s a greater need out there.”

Kennedy noted that ambulance service is not a money-making activity for the hospital, saying it runs at a deficit of about $500,000 a year.

“But we know that this is a primary need of the community,” she said, adding the primary focus at this time is on emergency transports.

In addition, Jan-Care Ambulance has offered to assist with emergency calls and medical transport starting the evening of March 31, said Assistant Wood County 911 Director Dale McEwuen, a member of the Ambulance Authority. Jan-Care already has one ambulance based in south Parkersburg and can move one or more up from Jackson County if needed.

Camden Clark’s foundation provided funds to purchase one ambulance from the Belpre area, Kennedy said.

Couch said he could not provide the price or source of the ambulances the county is buying but that would be discussed and formalized at Monday’s commission meeting.

“The county’s blessed in that we have excess American Recovery Act funds and we have opioid (settlement) money,” he said.

Although the ambulances will be operated by Camden Clark, the agreement will stipulate that the vehicles would revert to the county if the hospital stops providing the service, Couch said.

The hospital had hired 25 new ambulance service employees as of Friday morning, and a hospital spokesman said that afternoon the number had risen to 38. They are a mixture of emergency medical technicians, advanced EMTs, paramedics, critical care transport paramedics and emergency medical vehicle operators, most of whom came from St. Joseph’s Ambulance.

The new hires are a mixture of full-time, part-time and casual employees, who will be added to the existing workforce of 83, hospital representatives said.

Couch thanked Camden Clark for their efforts. Ambulance Authority Chairwoman Patsy Hardy expressed gratitude for the years of service by St. Joseph’s Ambulance, which was spun off as a for-profit company in 2003 from St. Joseph’s Hospital, where Hardy once served as CEO.

The meeting was attended by representatives of multiple local volunteer fire departments, including Assistant Waverly Chief Chip Umstott. He said the department provides first responder services for accidents and is concerned about the availability of ambulances.

However, he added that “we have good faith in Camden Clark, WVU and the County Commission.”

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com