MCLEANSBORO — Hamilton Memorial Hospital is struggling to keep up with federal response standards for required care on certain patients, and the hospital’s CEO says the biggest reason why is because the hospital is having to spend extra time finding an available ambulance or transportation to take patients to the next level of care needed.

Victoria Woodrow is the CEO at Hamilton Memorial Hospital. She says hospital officials are looking to take action on the issue.

Currently, the county’s ambulance service is their first call, but according to Woodrow, 77 percent of the time a different ambulance service will end up making the transfer because the county ambulance service cannot leave the area unattended for 9-1-1 emergencies.

Woodrow says the hospital will be seeking a “first to call” ambulance service.

Woodrow presented their situation to the Hamilton County Board at Monday night’s meeting, saying interested parties would also be interested in the county’s 9-1-1 service.

Hamilton County Board Chair Brad Miller says because it is in the early stages, the board will wait and see what options the hospital has before possibly looking into their own 9-1-1 service.