Medcare Ambulances Reach Out to Athens Community

The non-profit entity Medcare Ambulance, under Medflight—a company that transports patients in critical care by helicopter—has just established a location in Athens.Based out of Columbus, the statewide operation houses establishments in six other cities including, Logan, Delaware, Mansfield, Ashland and now Athens.Athens already has a county 911 emergency line, but Medcare enables citizens to travel by ambulance if needed. It is also a fee for service program unlike Athens’ 911, which is provided for by Athens taxpayers.“Most insurance companies will cover it, but it is only if you need it,” Phillip Koster, director of operations at the Medcare Ambulance in Columbus, said.Medcare transports patients that are in need of further medical assistance to Columbus when O’Bleness Memorial Hospital cannot provide adequate care. However, the program is also a use for patients who are not able to travel in a car due to injuries or illnesses, and need to go to nursing homes, doctors’ offices, etc.The company as a whole offers advanced and basic life support, a bariatric unit, communication center and a 24 hour long distance transport system, according to the company’s website.The Athens location has 20 to 30 employees and six ambulances, providing all the equipment of any other state regulated ambulance.“We have been pretty busy since establishing last year,” Koster said. “We do an average of 10 to 15 transports a day.”The ambulance system mostly covers those with serious non-life-threatening injuries such as those suffering from burns along with the elderly.Previously, Medcare would travel from the Logan location to transport patients in need of special attention to Columbus. With the installment of the Athens Medcare Ambulance within the city, citizens are given more efficient transportation.“With universal health care, hospitals are looking to provide a higher quality of care in a more efficient way,” said Koster.