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Hospital dispatcher cuts on hold for now

UnityPoint and E-911 decision-makers meet

A plan by UnityPoint Health Marshalltown officials to turn over on May 18 all medically-related dispatching services to the newly-formed Marshall County Communication Commission has been put on hold.

Also on hold is the May 18 termination date of four UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown E-911 dispatchers. They were notified in writing late last week their services will not be required after May 18. Three are full-time and one works on an as needed basis.

On Tuesday, representatives of UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown, the Marshall County Board of Supervisors and the Marshall County Communication Commission met to discuss transitioning all dispatch services to the E-911 Board, according to a joint statement signed by UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown President Dustin Wright, Marshalltown Mayor Joel Greer, and Marshall County Supervisor Chairman Bill Patten. Greer and Patten both serve on the new commission.

In the statement, the three write:

“As previously noted, currently 911 callers requesting an ambulance are transferred to UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown by the 911 Communications Center. UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown has concluded this arrangement is inappropriate as it involves UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown in the 911 dispatch process which should be handled by a governmental entity. Furthermore, UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown believes dispatching communications can be streamlined under one dispatch center.

“We are pleased to report discussions are continuing and the next step is to meet again on March 27 with the full Marshall County Communication Commission. Therefore, there will be no change in services and UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown will continue dispatch services until further notice.”

On Monday, and prior to the meeting between Wright, Greer and Patten, several MCCS board members told the Times-Republican they were extremely concerned about the timing and content of UnityPoint’s announcement.

MCCS board member and State Center Mayor Steve Sodders then said he was disappointed with UnityPoint-Marshalltown’s announcement. His comments were consistent with other board members.

“The hospital is giving us very little notice,” he said. I think a letter should have been sent to the full commission. And they should have brought it up to the full commission a month or two months ago. That is disappointing. What it means is this … if (handling medical calls) comes our responsibility regular E-911 dispatchers are not certified like the medical dispatchers at UnityPoint-Marshalltown … we would have to hire certified dispatchers or train those on hand now. We have already set the budget.”

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Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com

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