Looks lie Perry is coming on board with IFD. Like no one saw that coming with the new paint scheme on their new trucks and dropping the triple number on the trucks and the dispatches. No one has told us when they are coming, but we don't see it too far down the road.
Question here: What are they going to do for EMS? We dont see IFD maintaining the current arrangement with Rural Metro, and Perry doesnt have any ambulances. IFD Has a couple good reserves and a new truck on the way, but will that be enough for the increased area, or will this be an area of contention. Notice how no one mentions these small little details in the media? Of course not, EMS is overlooked again!
Please, no whining about the "contract" between Rural Metro and Perry. If Perry consolidates with Rural Metro, PTFD will no longer be an entity and cannot maintain a contractual relationship, and if the outgoing trustee signed the contract before leaving office, the new trustee cannot be bound by it.
If anyone knows the details on this, we would love to hear it.
Stay Safe
Dee
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
In The Red
Well, there is a lot of talk about the city budget, and none of it is any good. How will this affect those of us in EMS. For starters, we see the city tightening the purse strings on everything from overtime, fuel, equipment, take home vehicles (for the higher ups) to staffing.
One area that might rile a few feathers is when they start looking at duplicate services. I know what you are thinking, we really don't want to go there, but if we have our information right, there may be something to this. Health and Hospital Corporation is mandated to provide EMS service in all of Marion County. That is not to say each fire department is not free to provide it for themselves if they wish, but they are not required to. No where is it written that IFD has to provide ambulances. By operating ambulances, IFD is billing for the service they provide, but by being a fire department, they cannot be a for profit business. So, IFD is running ambulances, eating up a huge piece of the budget, but cannot do better than break even.
Wishard hospital can make a profit, and hold onto that money. The money could also be used to help finance the hospital, therefore decreasing the dollars needed from the city/county to pay for indigent care.
Then there is the billing end. If we are not mistaken, Wishard was granted special status a few years back in a bill, sponsored by Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), that allowed it to bill medicare/medicaid at a higher rate. We have also heard that Wishard is eligible for certain federal grants for indigent care that the fire department is ineligible to receive.
Lastly, there is the IU School of Medicine. They pump a lot of dollars into Wishard, money that might not be there if EMS was taken over by IFD.
Say what you want, but in times of budget crisis's, you just never know. Talk all you want about service, hiring, training, response; but when it comes down to it, WAS has been around for a long time and IFD EMS is still very new.
We know there are going to be some upset people over this one, so let us have it. Just remember, keep it clean.
Stay Safe
Dee
One area that might rile a few feathers is when they start looking at duplicate services. I know what you are thinking, we really don't want to go there, but if we have our information right, there may be something to this. Health and Hospital Corporation is mandated to provide EMS service in all of Marion County. That is not to say each fire department is not free to provide it for themselves if they wish, but they are not required to. No where is it written that IFD has to provide ambulances. By operating ambulances, IFD is billing for the service they provide, but by being a fire department, they cannot be a for profit business. So, IFD is running ambulances, eating up a huge piece of the budget, but cannot do better than break even.
Wishard hospital can make a profit, and hold onto that money. The money could also be used to help finance the hospital, therefore decreasing the dollars needed from the city/county to pay for indigent care.
Then there is the billing end. If we are not mistaken, Wishard was granted special status a few years back in a bill, sponsored by Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), that allowed it to bill medicare/medicaid at a higher rate. We have also heard that Wishard is eligible for certain federal grants for indigent care that the fire department is ineligible to receive.
Lastly, there is the IU School of Medicine. They pump a lot of dollars into Wishard, money that might not be there if EMS was taken over by IFD.
Say what you want, but in times of budget crisis's, you just never know. Talk all you want about service, hiring, training, response; but when it comes down to it, WAS has been around for a long time and IFD EMS is still very new.
We know there are going to be some upset people over this one, so let us have it. Just remember, keep it clean.
Stay Safe
Dee
Monday, July 28, 2008
Polyheme
Jems online has an interesting update on Polyheme. For those at the Wiz that have been around long enough to remember it, you might be interested. Hope no one bought any stock in it. According to the article, it does not look promising.
http://www.jems.com/news_and_articles/news/blood_substitute_fails.html
Stay Safe
Dee
http://www.jems.com/news_and_articles/news/blood_substitute_fails.html
Stay Safe
Dee
Vests
Recently a couple of cameramen and a firefighter were shot at during a residence fire. We have heard that an EMS crew was standing right next to one of the injured cameramen at the time he was hit. The culprit claimed he was mad at the news because they didn't cover it when he was shot a couple of weeks before.
How many times have we been on the scene of a cardiac arrest, fatal shooting, or a domestic, and people started screaming at us.
How hard would it be to ambush an EMS crew? Call 911, make up some slight injury so you only get the B code response, then just wait for them to show up.
We hear that some of the inner city crews are floating the idea of vests. With the city sitting at 72 murders so far this year, what do you think? If you work in a bad area, would you wear one? Everyday if required? Do you believe the city has become violent enough to need this?
Stay Safe
Dee
How many times have we been on the scene of a cardiac arrest, fatal shooting, or a domestic, and people started screaming at us.
How hard would it be to ambush an EMS crew? Call 911, make up some slight injury so you only get the B code response, then just wait for them to show up.
We hear that some of the inner city crews are floating the idea of vests. With the city sitting at 72 murders so far this year, what do you think? If you work in a bad area, would you wear one? Everyday if required? Do you believe the city has become violent enough to need this?
Stay Safe
Dee
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Rate The Man
The boys in white recently got a new man to run the show. Kevin Wilmouth has been in his new spot as WAS's Chief for a few weeks now and we are curious. Has there been any changes? Has anyone heard if he is planning any? How has the new boss been received by the troops? What is the overall concensus? Thumbs up or down?
Stay Safe
Dee
Stay Safe
Dee
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Hail To The Chief
Well, the decision has been made and it looks like Interim Chief Sanford is "The Man." What does this say about the departments future in EMS?
Sanford has been known as a pro EMS guy and the old Warren folks swear by him. Will he be able to pull EMS out of the dungeon that the previous administration managed to get it into? EMS got a bad rap for running the departments overtime budget into the ground. It was in fact the lack of a serious budget combined with poor operational planning that landed it where it was. Not enough money and too few people to do the job.
What changes can be expected now that there is someone who actually knows something about EMS at the top. Will we see more respect?
On a closing note, referring to EMT's as "Ambulance Drivers" shows not only a lack of understanding as to what we do, but a lack of respect to those that work hard for certification.
Stay Safe
Dee
Sanford has been known as a pro EMS guy and the old Warren folks swear by him. Will he be able to pull EMS out of the dungeon that the previous administration managed to get it into? EMS got a bad rap for running the departments overtime budget into the ground. It was in fact the lack of a serious budget combined with poor operational planning that landed it where it was. Not enough money and too few people to do the job.
What changes can be expected now that there is someone who actually knows something about EMS at the top. Will we see more respect?
On a closing note, referring to EMT's as "Ambulance Drivers" shows not only a lack of understanding as to what we do, but a lack of respect to those that work hard for certification.
Stay Safe
Dee
Friday, July 11, 2008
In Our Prayers
We want everyone to include IMPD Officer Jason A. Fishburn and his family in their prayers. He was critically wounded in the line of duty last night while assisting in the apprehension of a murder suspect on the east side.
Stay Safe
Dee
Stay Safe
Dee
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Can You Hear me Now?
Well, we have been on the digital system for over a day now. How is the quality, clarity, and reception? Any problems yet? Any concerns? For those of us who have used it, any comments?
Stay Safe
Dee
Stay Safe
Dee
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