Oologah-Talala EMS District

NEWS from OTEMS

Providing excellence in Emergency Medical Services for Will Rogers Country

For Immediate Release   

August 14, 2008

Contact John Wylie, Public Information Officer

918-629-9220

OTEMS SETS ‘BONDS FOR LIFE’ PUBLIC FORUM

Directors of the OTEMS ambulance district have called a special meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, at the Oologah Community Center to provide a public forum to discuss the district’s Aug. 26 “Bonds for Life” election.

OTEMS directors and administrators will offer a PowerPoint presentation about the bond issue and the financial issues facing OTEMS and ambulance service in general, and will answer any questions OTEMS residents may have on the bond issue or the district’s operations.

OTEMS is the only full paramedic ambulance service in Rogers County. An ambulance and crew will be on hand at the forum to explain the equipment carried on a modern full-service ambulance. The crew also will explain and demonstrate which equipment and procedures can be used only by a paramedic to treat patients facing life threatening illnesses or injuries.

The bond issue, if approved, would provide long-term financial stability for the ambulance district with a property tax increase of 1.5 mills. That would cost the owner of a $100,000 home less than a dollar a month.

“Ambulance services are failing all over Oklahoma due to payments by Medicare which do not even cover the direct costs of an ambulance run and provide no funds for new equipment. Bonds for Life will ensure that OTEMS remains financial strong. Without the bond issue, the district will have to cut back sharply on services and could close completely within 18 months,” said Jack Griggs, OTEMS board chairman.

Unlike most ambulance services, OTEMS is a public entity and its board meetings and records (except medical records covered by HIPAA) are open to the public.

Additional details on the bond proposal are available at the OTEMS web site, www.otems.com.

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OTEMS is a tax-supported district which provides emergency medical care to a 180-square mile area of Rogers County including Oologah, Talala and rural Claremore. It operates Advanced Life Support units (ALS) from stations in Oologah and just north of Claremore. For further information, visit our website at www.otems.com.

OOLOGAH-TALALA EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DISTRICT

PO Box 165, Oologah, OK 74053-0165 - website: www.otems.com - 918-443-2350                

 Station 1: Historic Downtown Oologah  HQ - Station 2: Lowery Rd and Industrial Blvd.