The POH Emergency Center, 5625 Water Tower Place in Clarkston, is no longer able to accept ambulances until officially licensed.
Ambulances had been allowed to take emergency victims there because a surgical center was being built.
According to Tressa Gardner, Director of Emergency Services at POH Medical Center, the state mandates that ambulances can transport patients to hospitals and freestanding surgical centers.
‘We’re working towards completing the surgical center, but the time frame was too long for the comfort needs of the county,? Gardner said.
Gardner stressed center’s continued ability to provide its usual emergency medical services except for receiving ambulances.
‘We have all the necessary staffing and emergency equipment, just not the correct paperwork. If you drive up with a broken arm, we can fix it,? Gardner said.
Currently patients that would have normally been brought by ambulance to the POH Emergency Center on Water Tower Place will be transported to licensed facilities in neighboring counties potentially adding to transport time.
‘Instead of being driven to treatment two minutes down the road, they’ll have to go somewhere further away, adding strain to the situation,? Gardner said.
Gardner could not speculate on a precise time table of completion for the stand-alone surgical center and subsequent licensing process, but noted ongoing interaction with the builders.