JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — West Jefferson Medical Center's ambulance service has been a fixture in Jefferson Parish for decades.
West Jeff currently responds to emergency 911 calls on the west bank of the parish.
LCMC Health, the private operator now running the public hospital confirms it is now exploring a possible partnership with Acadian Ambulance.
The Lafayette-based Acadian is the largest private ambulance service in the country with a large footprint in Louisiana and Texas.
According to LCMC Health, "Our discussions remain exploratory, as West Jefferson Medical Center continues to work through the required approvals. As demonstrated by LCMC Health's recently announced $75 million capital expansion at West Jefferson Medical Center, any partnership will keep the safety and care of our community as priority number one."
Parish Councilman Paul Johnston was briefed on the discussions on Friday.
"The only thing that I've been told is Acadian Ambulance Services has approached West Jefferson Holdings or West Jefferson Hospital about supplying them with the ambulance service on the West Bank," Johnston said.
LCMC Health took over at West Jeff in 2015. At the time, it agreed to maintain the status quo at the hospital for two years.
Johnston is hoping hospital officials meet with the parish council before any decisions are made.
"I think that the service we have right now is a fine service," Johnston said. "We don't need an outside service to come into the West Bank."
LCMC promised any future partnership would come with a commitment to equitably absorb the current West Jeff Emergency Medical team.
Right now, there are no discussions on replacing the current emergency ambulance service on the east bank in JP.
That service is operated by East Jefferson Hospital.