Commission reimburses hospital for nurse required on ambulance due to shortage

A shortage of paramedics has caused an issue with the hospital that commissioners agreed to compensate the hospital for on Monday.

With EMS Department personnel present, Clay County Medical Center CEO Austin Gillard joined the meeting to discuss the cost of having a registered nurse go on a transfer with EMS. Currently the EMS Department is short one paramedic to cover all shifts. CCMC sends a registered nurse on transfers if EMS is short a paramedic for the patient’s safety and if medically needed but this can cause a nursing shortage in the ER, OB, or medial surgical unit.