Samme old story-not enough ambulances

[swinokur]

Same old story-not enough ambulances

They just can't seem to get this solved. For over 30 years.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...4dcfa8-529b-11e5-933e-7d06c647a395_story.html

 

[traveller]

They just can't seem to get this solved. For over 30 years.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...4dcfa8-529b-11e5-933e-7d06c647a395_story.html

That would be easy enough to solve. Put the ambulance service out to a bid and have one of the commercial providers run the system. With the lower cost, a larger number of units would be available.

 

[swinokur]

With so many residents not paying their ambulance bill, how would it be a viable solution since a private company would go broke. Unless non paying customers are calculated into the financial model.

 

[traveller]

As for the case in the article, within 4 minutes of the call, a firefighter paramedic was on scene to take care of the kid. There is no much on the ambulance that the fire engine didn't have available. Sad as it is, it probably wouldn't have made a difference for this kid.

 

[swinokur]

but this is the 3rd time this week.

The problem is systemic and ongoing.

 

[traveller]

With so many residents not paying their ambulance bill, how would it be a viable solution since a private company would go broke. Unless non paying customers are calculated into the financial model.

The city would pay a subsidy to the ambulance company. Still cheaper than maintaining fully benefitted and unionized city EMS service.

 

[traveller]

but this is the 3rd time this week.

The problem is systemic and ongoing.

Yes.




As you said, it's ongoing for 30 years.

 

[swinokur]

yep. but contracting out is an admission that the city cannot run it's own affairs. It would be an affront to home rule.

not gonna happen IMO.

 

[traveller]

yep. but contracting out is an admission that the city cannot run it's own affairs. It would be an affront to home rule.

not gonna happen IMO.

This. In addition, contracting it out would limit the rackets ability to hand jobs to political cronies.

 

[gre24ene]

I can promise you that the fireman are upset that they were not able to save this child. One of the main problems is the "Office of Unified Communications". They have no clue how to properly categorize EMS calls. As an example, we routinely get dispatched for a person with chest pains, only to find out when we get there that the "patient" called for an ingrown toenail. That is no BS. Add to that the fact that the population has grown tremendously without adding any Fire/EMS resources.

 

[swinokur]

no one is criticizing the firefighters. It's the administration that's always been broken, not the firefighters.

 

[Mdeng]

Swinokur I have to ask if you have any experience in the fire service.

DC had other units in the area but they were already committed to calls. This happens amd dispatch will move assets if they are available. The bigger problem in the city is the band aide brigade. The people call 911 for things they could treat themselves or go to the hospital on their own. Instead they call for an ambulance thinking it will get them past the ER triage for faster service or they just need a ride.

If you have ever been in the fire/ems service you know that 2 out of every 3 calls is for the band aide brigade.

 

[traveller]

I can promise you that the fireman are upset that they were not able to save this child.

Nobody faults them for the outcome.

It's the political boobs that run the agency and the DC council who are responsible for this.

 

[swinokur]

Swinokur I have to ask if you have any experience in the fire service.

DC had other units in the area but they were already committed to calls. This happens amd dispatch will move assets if they are available. The bigger problem in the city is the band aide brigade. The people call 911 for things they could treat themselves or go to the hospital on their own. Instead they call for an ambulance thinking it will get them past the ER triage for faster service or they just need a ride.

If you have ever been in the fire/ems service you know that 2 out of every 3 calls is for the band aide brigade.

Many years paid. And 5 years in Communications. And since DC has no legal means to stop the abuse, it continues.

good enough?

 

[Don H]

The biggest problem is abuse of the EMS system. People think it's a taxi service.

 

[swinokur]

yep. and no way to stop it.

DC residents use ambulances and ER'S as their primary care system, not traditional trips to the Dr. in POV's like most people.

 

[Mdeng]

Many years paid. And 5 years in Communications. And since DC has no legal means to stop the abuse, it continues.

good enough?

Absolutely!

I asked because I normally hear this type of criticism from people that don't really understand the system.

I didn't know D.C. didn't charge the abusers. Charles county changed things a few years ago and it slowed down some but it will never end in our welfare society.

 

[Mdeng]

Was the cause of death released? Could this child really been saved?

I ask because I didn't see it in the article and far to often the media has an agenda.

 

[traveller]

The biggest problem is abuse of the EMS system. People think it's a taxi service.

That is a problem every major city EMS system has to deal with.

 

[traveller]

I didn't know D.C. didn't charge the abusers. Charles county changed things a few years ago and it slowed down some but it will never end in our welfare society.

'Can't squeeze blood from a stone'

The ones most likely to abuse the system in that way have no assets you could go after for a collection action.