SAFFORD — Add the City of Safford to the list of local entities in support of Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center in its effort to offer ambulance service to the region, replacing Life Line Ambulance.
At its June 22 meeting, the Safford City Council voted unanimously to offer a letter of support to MGRMC to obtain a Certificate of Necessity from the Arizona Department of Health Services, which would allow the hospital to start an ambulance service.
City Manager Eric Bejarano explained to the council he has a background in medical transport, having worked for eight years in air medical services, and served on the Graham and Greenlee EMS Council, including as chair of the council.
“I would not say that I supported (MRGMC’s request) if I did not see there be a need,” Bejarano said.
Danny Smith, vice president of Marketing and Community Relations for Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center, said the hospital has been working through the process to obtain a certificate of necessity for about nine months, and there is no guarantee Arizona Department of Health will approve MGRMC’s request. However, the more support shown by the community, the better the hospital’s chances of success.
On June 16, the Thatcher Town Council voted unanimously to offer a letter of support to the hospital, as did the Pima Town Council on April 14. The Graham County Board of Supervisors will be asked for their support during the board’s June 29 meeting.
Life Line Ambulance is operated by American Medical Response, which is owned by Global Medical Response. On its website, Life Line Ambulance does not list Graham County as a service area — listed are Maricopa, Pima County, Prescott and Western Arizona — and ambulance service in the Gila Valley is dispatched out of Tucson.
