County concerned over losing ambulance services
Local city officials are preparing for the loss of Gold Cross Ambulance services in Imperial County.
Calexico Council Member Bill Hodge said, “We are concerned. Rightfully so. Because of the news of Gold Cross going bankrupt, that they’re going to terminate the contract by July 2020.”
He said that would be 2 years before their contract ends.
“Even though they’re in the process of bankruptcy, will be offering services still for about another year,” Hodge said.
El Centro City Mayor Edgard Garcia said there’s been performance concerns with the ambulance service in the past.
“We have had issues in the past where there was a strike and we had a temporary interruption of service,” Garcia said.
He said now it’s a time for the area to work together.
“It’s going to take the efforts of the county and individual cities to basically mitigate this and make sure that we have coverage for all of our residents,” Garcia said.
Hodge said they’re one step ahead of the situation.
“We have an ambulance sitting, a second one, we just don’t have the positions or the hired help to run it,” Hodge said.
He said they’re working on this year’s budget to make it happen.
“Once they’re settled, then we’ll be able to hire three more paramedics that will be able to operate our second ambulance, and so that will take care of the absence of Gold Cross,” Hodge said.
Brawley City Mayor Donnie Wharton said negotiations are already ongoing with a possible ambulance provider.
“They’re clearly the largest in the country and it’s American Medical Response. AMR. They happen to provide service in our neighboring counties, including Riverside and San Diego counties,” Wharton said.
