Okla. EMS Service Plans Dispatch Center Move
Sept. 14--OOLOGAH -- Oologah-Talala ambulance service will move its dispatch center next week from the Chelsea Police Department to Mercy Regional EMS's dispatch center in Owasso.
The Oologah-Talala Emergency Medical Services board voted to make the change at a meeting Thursday night.
"The transition will be transparent for our patrons, whose calls will be handled by experienced dispatchers who are familiar with the geography and addresses in our district," OTEMS operations director Kelly Deal said in a prepared statement.
In a letter to Chelsea City Manager Kenny Weast, Deal said the decision was "based only on financial reasons as we are able to cut our monthly cost by more than half (from $1,350 to $600)."
Deal said OTEMS will honor a 30-day cancellation clause in the Chelsea contract by paying for services through Oct. 14.
The ambulance service already has begun testing its new radio frequency and hopes to make the physical switch to Mercy as soon as Monday.
Mercy already dispatches for the Northwest Rogers County Fire Protection District. The boards of both entities have approved sharing a radio frequency.
