UPDATED

HAYESVILLE, NC – Cherokee County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday, Jan. 20, to no longer provide medical transfers for Clay County patients by Cherokee County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital.

In a Jan.23 letter obtained by FYN, Cherokee County Manager Randy Wiggins stated to Erlanger Western North Carolina CEO Mark Kimball that the Cherokee Board of Commissioners were made aware that Clay County EMS will cease to offer medical transfer services for Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital. In turn, Wiggins said that the Board determined that “it would not be fair to the taxpayers of Cherokee County to subsidize activities that should be the responsibility of Clay County EMS in service to their citizens.”

A copy of the Cherokee County letter addressed to Erlanger WNC.

The exceptions to the rule involves inclusion if the Erlanger patient is a Cherokee County resident, if Cherokee County EMS initiated the transfer of the patient to Erlanger WNC, or if the patient meets medical flight criteria and flight service is inoperable at the time.

“It is Cherokee County’s hope that the leaders of Clay County will reconsider their position on the transfer of their patients from Erlanger WC,” Wiggins concluded.

Shortly after publication of FYN’s report, Clay County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert Peck weighed-in on social media.  “The decision that led to the action of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners was a departmental level decision and not one of Clay County Leadership,” Peck stated. “At no time was Clay County EMS directed by the Clay County Board of Commissioners to end necessary patient transports. Upon learning of this decision, Clay County EMS was instructed to resume transports until information could be gathered as to the reasoning for such a decision. Both Erlanger and the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners were notified of this directive last week. Our mutual aid agreements with our neighboring counties are of the utmost importance to us. While misinformation may be shared upon social media and in the press, we won’t allow anyone to play politics with the health of our citizens. The Clay County Board of Commissioners will work with our local hospitals and municipalities to come up with a long term solution to patient transport needs.”

The Clay County Board of Commissioners regularly meet on the first Thursday of each month at 6:45 p.m.  Meetings are held in the multi-purpose room in the Clay County Courthouse Annex. For more information or to be placed on the agenda, dial 828-389-0089

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