SAFFORD — Graham County is the latest to support the effort of Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center to start an ambulance service for the Gila Valley.
During Monday’s meeting, Graham County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to offer a letter of support to MGRMC to obtain a certificate of necessity from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
“We’ve all been very aware of this coming down, we’ve been at several meetings about it, so I have no issues with it,” said Supervisor John Howard.
Supervisor Clay Mack said he supports “a better ambulance service,” saying, “I feel like when there is competition, you get better service.”
Previously, the Pima, Safford and Thatcher councils have all unanimously voted to craft letters of support for the hospital, and County Manager Dustin Welker said the local Fire Districts are also supportive.
Welker also said he anticipates the hospital will apply within the next few weeks.
Arizona Department of Health Services issues the certificate of necessity that allows operation of an ambulance service. There are currently four certificates of necessity issued in Graham County:
- Life Line Ambulance, owned by AMR
- PHI
- Ponderosa Air Ambulance
- Freeport-McMoRan
MGRMC is seeking to replace Life Line in serving the emergency needs of Graham County residents.
