Merit Health River Region, Vicksburg Fire Department Reach Patient Transportation Agreement
8/28/2026
Vicksburg, Mississippi — Merit Health River Region has reached a new three-year agreement with the City of Vicksburg and Vicksburg Fire Department for emergency and non-emergency patient transportation services, strengthening collaboration between two organizations committed to serving the health and safety of the Vicksburg community.
Under the agreement, the Vicksburg Fire Department will provide transportation services for Merit Health River Region patients, including emergency and non-emergency hospital transports and transfers requiring basic life support, advanced life support, and specialty care.
The Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen authorized the agreement during its August 25 meeting. Mayor Willis Thompson signed the agreement on behalf of the City of Vicksburg.
“This relationship is about more than transportation; it is about investing in the community we are privileged to serve,” said Nicholas Arledge, CEO of Merit Health River Region. “We are proud to work with the City of Vicksburg and the Vicksburg Fire Department in a way that keeps resources within our community and strengthens the services available to our patients. When our hospital and local public safety organizations work together, the entire community benefits.”
Revenue generated through the agreement will help support Vicksburg Fire Department personnel, vehicles, equipment and other resources needed to provide ambulance services to the community.
“This is a great example of how local collaboration can have a direct impact on patient care and our community,” said Karl McCaffrey, emergency department director of Merit Health River Region. “ Our emergency department relies on strong coordination with emergency medical services, and this agreement allows us to work together more closely to meet the needs of our patients. Whether a patient needs an emergency transfer, specialty care, or transportation following discharge, reliable transportation is an important part of the overall care.”
The Vicksburg Fire Department will have a dedicated ambulance available 24 hours a day for services associated with the agreement, further supporting coordination between Merit Health River Region and local emergency services.
The agreement is part of Merit Health River Region’s continued commitment to being an active community partner and reinvesting in the health and well-being of the Vicksburg and Warren County communities.
“Merit Health River Region has always believed that being a community hospital means more than providing care within our walls,” Arledge said. “It means finding opportunities to strengthen the community around us. This allows us to do both: support our patients while investing in a local organization that provides an essential service to the people of Vicksburg.”
Back