A proposal requested by Eureka Springs Hospital from a company that produces specially equipped vans for medical facilities to transport patients in non-emergency situations came in under what was projected.

That’s what members of the Eureka Springs Hospital Commission learned during the commission’s brief monthly workshop held Monday, July 7.

The workshop lasted just under 10 minutes with the possibility of leasing or purchasing a transport van being the only topic.

Commission chair Sandy Martin joined the meeting via speaker phone. She was difficult to hear by those not sitting at the table throughout the meeting, however, with no one putting a microphone up to the phone speaker.

The final proposal from the company that would supply the transport van was $209,369, Martin said.

“It came under what we were hoping for and what we were looking at,” Martin said. “It will be a mobile response, non-urgency response van also converted, or modified, to also be a mobile clinic. … ” Martin shared the idea of pursuing a van at the June 16 hospital commission meeting, saying that she has looked into the possibility of leasing or purchasing a non-emergency “mobile clinic” medical transport van that would be an asset to the community.

“That allows us to go out into the community,” Martin said at the June 16 meeting. “The company I talked to is a van mobile and they’re out of North Dakota and I had a conference call with them last week.”

Martin originally said the cost of purchasing a van would be $200,000 to $250,000, with the hospital and the city potentially applying for grant funds available through the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

At its most recent meeting held June 23, the city council approved a resolution to proceed with the grant application.

Eureka Springs Fire Chief Gary Inman, whose department oversees the ambulances in the city, supports the idea of a medical transport van for the hospital, Martin told commissioners.

“Gary has been very helpful,” she said. “ … He and I are both going to be at the city council meeting next Monday (July 14), and we will work on the proposal with him.”

Commission vice chair Brian Beyler said Inman’s input on the project is a benefit.

“… Gary needs to kind of give clarification to the council on how that that side of it works, you know, and the fact that now because we’re not a traditional hospital anymore, and doing the transfers more commonly,” Beyler said.

Commissioner David Carlisle asked how the hospital would handle staffing for the van.

“How do we serve the van, who do we have to drive it, and who are the personnel assigned, and where do they come from?” Carlisle asked.

Martin responded: “We have paramedics on staff that qualify. It does’t require a special driver. It doesn’t require special insurance. … We do have paramedics and we’ll have to figure technically all that out. I’m sure it’s a matter of timing as well. That’s something the staff can figure out with the schedule.”

If the city and hospital do not get a grant, a lease or lease-to-own option is also available, Martin told commissioners at the June 16 meeting.