This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/private-ambulances-will-soon-start-responding-to-calls-in-the-district/2016/02/16/3783ebd4-d4c8-11e5-b195-2e29a4e13425_story.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Private ambulances will soon start responding to calls in the District Private ambulances will soon be sent out on calls in the District
(about 2 hours later)
The D.C. fire department has chosen a private ambulance company with a nationwide reach to help augment its own fleet, which has been troubled by delays in responding to emergencies and unable to keep up with a spike in 911 calls from a growing population. The D.C. fire department has chosen a private ambulance company with a nationwide reach to help augment its own fleet, which has been troubled by delays in responding to emergencies and unable to keep up with a surge in 911 calls from a growing population.
American Medical Response, a subsidiary of Envision Healthcare Corp., based in Colorado, was the lead bidder for a temporary contract that begins in 30 days, reflecting the situation’s urgency. After about a month, new bidding will take place for a permanent contract, and AMR can bid again. Colorado-based American Medical Response, a subsidiary of Envision Healthcare, was the lead bidder for a temporary contract that begins in 30 days, reflecting the situation’s urgency. After about a month, new bidding will take place for a permanent contract, and AMR can bid again.
Thomas Milton, a spokesman for the ambulance company, declined to comment Tuesday. The private ambulances will handle low-priority and non-serious calls, a shift that officials say will free up D.C. emergency workers to focus on calls involving patients suffering more serious injuries or illnesses. The company already works in the District and contracts with the city to help out at special events. Thomas Milton, a spokesman for the ambulance company, declined to comment Tuesday. The private ambulances will handle low-priority calls, a shift that officials say will free up D.C. emergency workers to focus on calls involving patients with more serious injuries or illnesses. The company already works in the District and contracts with the city to help out at special events.
“As the demand for pre-hospital medical care continues to grow, this is an extremely important step in EMS reform,” Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) said in a statement. “This agreement will supplement our resources so that [the fire department] can most effectively deliver on its mission — responding to medical emergencies, and saving lives.”“As the demand for pre-hospital medical care continues to grow, this is an extremely important step in EMS reform,” Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) said in a statement. “This agreement will supplement our resources so that [the fire department] can most effectively deliver on its mission — responding to medical emergencies, and saving lives.”
[D.C. fire department’s medical director quits, saying reforms blocked ] [D.C. fire department’s medical director quits, saying reforms blocked]
Officials said that firefighters, many trained as advanced life support paramedics, will continue to respond to all 911 calls. They will evaluate patients “to determine the level of medical care and resources required, including how the patient will be transported to the hospital,” according to a statement. Officials said that firefighters, many trained as advanced-life-support paramedics, will continue to respond to all 911 calls. They will evaluate patients “to determine the level of medical care and resources required, including how the patient will be transported to the hospital,” according to a statement.
The department said that patients with minor injuries or illnesses, including things such as ankle sprains or cold symptoms, will be taken to hospitals by the private company. Calls for more serious problems — such as heart attacks, respiratory arrest, chest pains, strokes and shootings — will be handled entirely by the District, which will automatically dispatch an advanced life support ambulance. The department said that patients with minor injuries or illnesses, including conditions such as ankle sprains or cold symptoms, will be taken to hospitals by the private company. Calls for more serious problems — such as heart attacks, respiratory arrest, chest pains, strokes and shootings — will be handled entirely by the District, which will automatically dispatch advanced-life-support ambulances.
[Fire chief wants to privatize ambulance service in District][Fire chief wants to privatize ambulance service in District]
Officials say that by being spared non-urgent calls, emergency crews will be more free to reach patients in urgent need. “It’s important that our units are available to respond to these critical emergency calls,” Gregory M. Dean, chief of the fire and emergency medical services department, said in a statement. Officials say that by being spared non-urgent calls, emergency crews will be freer to reach patients in urgent need. “It’s important that our units are available to respond to these critical emergency calls,” Gregory M. Dean, chief of the fire and emergency medical services department, said in a statement.
But Dean’s plan has not been universally embraced. His recently hired medical director, Jullette M. Saussy, quit last week saying that reform efforts have been have been blocked and that “people are dying needlessly because we are moving too slow.” Saussy wrote in her resignation letter that a private ambulance service “is as unlikely to fix the situation as placing a Band-Aid on a gushing artery.” But Dean’s plan has not been universally embraced. His recently hired medical director, Jullette M. Saussy, quit last week saying that reform efforts have been blocked and that “people are dying needlessly because we are moving too slow.” Saussy wrote in her resignation letter that a private ambulance service “is as unlikely to fix the situation as placing a Band-Aid on a gushing artery.”
D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) also has expressed reservations, saying he supports the privatization plan only as a short-term fix.D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) also has expressed reservations, saying he supports the privatization plan only as a short-term fix.
The fire department has been plagued by problems for years with responding quickly to medical calls, with several deaths reported after delayed responses. Officials attributed many of those delays to its fleet of 39 ambulances being tied up on calls. The District also is trying to bolster a shortage of paramedics. The fire department has been plagued by problems for years in responding quickly to medical calls, with several deaths reported after delayed responses. Officials attributed many of those delays to the fleet of 39 ambulances being tied up on calls. The District also is trying to relieve a shortage of paramedics.
[District’s new fire chief works to reform agency][District’s new fire chief works to reform agency]
District officials say the biggest problem, though, has been call volume. From 2010 to 2015, calls for medical emergencies have soared more than 20 percent, from 130,870 to 162,168. On some days, at the busiest times, the District doesn’t have enough ambulances to get to everyone who dials 911. District officials say the biggest problem, though, has been call volume. From 2010 to 2015, calls for medical emergencies have soared more than 20 percent, from 130,870 to 162,168. On some days, at the busiest times, the District does not have enough ambulances to get to every 911 call.
Under the terms of the contract, American Medical Response will bill the District about $95 an hour, with a cap set at $1 million for the first month. The company will not directly bill patients. Money for the program is coming from a multimillion-dollar withdrawal from the District’s reserve fund. The fire department also recoups money by billing patients between $428 and $735, depending on the level of care. Fire officials could not immediately say if the District will bill residents for the use of the private service. Under the terms of the contract, AMR will bill the District about $95 an hour, with a cap set at $1 million for the first month. The company will not directly bill patients. Money for the program is coming from a multimillion-dollar withdrawal from the District’s reserve fund. The fire department also recoups money by billing patients between $428 and $735, depending on the level of care. Fire officials could not immediately say whether the District will bill residents for the use of the private service.