Re: 911:: Private EMS Dispute and EMS Dispatch

[Guest guest]

In my area, the EMS providers sign contracts with the local townships and

their respective fire departments. The fire depts do not transport except

under extraordinary circumstances. AMR has a large presence here as well, and

typically does a fine job. Other services such as Community EMS, Huron Valley

Ambulance Services, and Alliance Health Systems also provide EMS services

here. It can often become tricky when turf wars break out and fire depts

change

providers, particularly since we dispatch for so many of them.

[Guest guest]

> This just does not sound right to me. How many folks out there have

> an exclusive contract with a private company for EMS? How is it working?

I believe SLO County has only a single source for ambulance service. Of course

the population of the whole County is only about a quarter of a million.

33+ years ago, when I was first hired, there were multiple ambulance services,

including some which had only a single unit (with questionable competency of

personnel). For the past 15+ yrs or so, there has only been a single provider.

As to how well it is working: it seems to be okay. No horror stories. I don't

think the owner is getting exactly rich. Personnel seem well trained,

equipment always stocked and response times seem adequate and appropriate.

They have some excess capacity (needed, as this is tourist country and the

population can double during some summer weekends), but probably they could be

stressed in the event of a major mass casualty incident (e.g. we have a nuke

plant located here).

Overall, it seems to work here (but YMMV).

[Note: I am not privy to any bureaucratic discussions/negotiations/in-fighting

and can only judge it as an outside " user " of the service.]

Roy Mumaw

CAPD Arroyo Grande

[Guest guest]

I can see how this works for rural areas, or small cities. I am just

not used to it. Here in NYC, EMS was a separate city agency, and is

now part of the FD. We also have some authorized volunteer squads,

but they are integrated into the dispatch system. I suspect most

big cities work this way. What I found odd was that it is an

exclusive contract with only one company, and even excludes municipal

departments from providing EMS. I am not sure how you can do that.