County and Maury Regional leaders meet to discuss emergency health care

Leaders from Lewis County Government and Maury Regional Center recently met to discuss the feasibility of a 24-hour emergency care facility in Lewis County. They also discussed Lewis County's ambulance service and its current contract with Maury Regional, who provides that emergency service.

Representing the County was Mayor Jonah Keltner and Commissioner Kyle Bobo. Representing Maury Regional was Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Martin Chaney; Regional Operations Director, Nathan Miller; EMS Director Michael Dunavant; and Director of Lewis Health Center Hugh Bennett.

The meeting took place as a result of Lewis County Commissioners approving Resolution #12-19A-22 during their December meeting, which formally requested Maury Regional open a hospital in Lewis County.

That resolution, along with a petition requesting Maury Regional open a fully equipped, 24-hour hospital, was mailed directly to Dr. Chaney in January. The petition was fourteen pages long and contained hundreds of signatures from Lewis County residents.

During the meeting, Dr. Chaney informed the group that a new federal law had just went into effect on January 1, 2023, in which a medical facility can be designated a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH).

The REH designation is designed so small, rural communities can maintain access to critical outpatient hospital services that may not be able to support or sustain a large hospital. They are required by law to provide 24-hour emergency and observation services, and can elect to furnish other outpatient services too.

To help with operational expenses, facilities designated as REH will receive enhanced Medicare payments for certain outpatient services and additional monthly payments. Dr. Chaney said he would look into the feasibility of establishing an REH in Lewis County, but cautioned it would be a long shot, and also warned that it would require some financial assistance from the county in order for it to just break even.

The group also discussed the ambulance situation in Lewis County, which has reportedly improved since this summer, due to Maury Regional offering a more favorable work schedule and better benefits to its ambulance staff. Mr. Dunavant stated that the ambulances for Lewis County were now fully staffed, other than one position that is still currently open.

"The safety of our residents is my number one concern, and I appreciate Dr. Chaney and his colleagues for helping us try to find a way to improve emergency health care in Lewis County," stated Mayor Keltner.

According to Commissioner Bobo, "Our main concern is care for our community. We have faced devastating effects from not having after hour care and care in emergency situations. We have taken the first step and hope to work with Maury Regional and Dr. Chaney to get a solution in place. We must push forward and do what's best for our community! The commission will work tirelessly with Mayor Keltner and other elected officials to make this a reality."

Dr. Chaney and his colleagues concluded the meeting by agreeing to provide the county with some data from 2022 regarding Lewis County's ambulance service, as well as a three month contract extension to the county's existing ambulance agreement. They also agreed to report back in the Spring regarding their research concerning the feasibility of opening a 24-hour emergency care facility in our community.