Queen Creek will provide ambulance backup to Chandler
QCFMD
Queen Creek has entered into an agreement to provide ambulance services to Chandler, which plans to go live with its own fire-based emergency transport system on Jan. 1.
As the city of Chandler prepares to launch its own ambulance transport system, Queen Creek has approved entering into an intergovernmental agreement to provide backup services.
The Queen Creek Town Council unanimously voted to approve the agreement during its Oct. 21 meeting. The agreement was on the council’s consent agenda, which is handled through one motion and vote.
In 2016, Queen Creek received a certificate of necessity from the Arizona State Department of Health Services to provide ambulance transportation services. The certificate provides for emergency ambulance service within an approved service area.
“As surrounding municipalities have started their own fire department-run emergency transport system, backup agreements have been put in place to ensure ambulance transportation resources can be shared between municipalities during high-call volume,” a council report stated.
Chandler plans to go live with its own fire-based emergency transport system on Jan. 1, and requested the backup agreement with Queen Creek. The town has such agreements in place with Gilbert, Mesa and the Superstition Fire and Medical District.
“This agreement has no negative fiscal impact. The city of Chandler will bill the end user for any transports they do resulting from aid provided under the agreement. Queen Creek would do the same for any transports provided by (the Queen Creek Fire & Medical Department),” the report continued.
In July 2023, Queen Creek started providing its own ambulance service through QCFMD after years of contracting with American Medical Response.
In October, the town of San Tan Valley agreed to enter into a contract with AMR to provide ambulance services for residents. AMR has been servicing unincorporated San Tan Valley since 1984 under a certificate of necessity issued by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
Janet Perez News Editor | Queen Creek &
San Tan Valley
Meet Janet Janet Perez joined Independent Newsmedia as editor of the Queen Creek Independent and Florence Independent in 2020. She started her career in 1989 with the Gannett-owned El Paso Times. In 1992, she moved to Tempe and has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. She left Arizona for three years to work at New Mexico State University and Baylor University before returning to work at Arizona State University. Missing the business, she went back to journalism in 2017.
Community: A long-time pet owner, she supports animal welfare causes.
Education: University of Texas at El Paso with a BA in journalism and a minor in political science.
Random Fact: She had a head full of random facts.
Hobbies: Reading, watching documentaries, cooking and playing with her dogs.
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