E.M.S. company clashes with local firefighters

[@anderstempel916]

“Nooooooo we cant have you treat BLS patients we have to charge them $2500 for a ride to the hospital!”

[@4LineAllStar]

I’ve played in both sides of the fence, and if it’s a BLS call, ALS does not need to respond. Private ambulance company doing what it does best, hunting for the most money possible

[@ffjsb]

This.

[@SagebrushRambles]

Yup

[@HeavyHanded]

Then what happens if the patient worsens and ALS is needed ASAP?

[@heatherbeane3234]

@@SagebrushRambles Then they call them when they get to the scene

[@SMAAirAssault]

Exactly

[@uav123guy]

They moved into an already secure neighborhood then demanded the already volunteer department to stop so they can charge patients. Nuh uh.

[@Firebuff101]

Private EMS is a sham. Their equipment is garbage, they treat their employees like shit and the bills are insane. Private EMS handling 911 calls should be a last resort. My department, which is mostly volunteer, now staffs a paid 24/7 paramedic first responder due to a lack of volunteer medics. They go straight to the scene while the volunteers get the ambulance. If a medic is needed, the medic rides. If not, they stay in service and let the EMT(s) handle.

[@midwestfire]

You obviously don't know many Ambulance company's.

[@Firebuff101]

@@midwestfire I've worked for 2 and have heard countless stories about others. You obviously are some sort of higher-up trying to defend your garbage reputation.

[@midwestfire]

@@Firebuff101 No, I don't work for companie. Just every county in my state is ran by a Private Ambulance Company. I wont lie... some are bad, some are good. Most that I have seen and worked with are very well, no complaints.

[@SagebrushRambles]

@@midwestfire Your syntax is messed up. You're not even American are you? Are you just jumping into the comments from another country acting like you live here and know what you're talking about? Hmm.

[@midwestfire]

@@SagebrushRambles Im from Arkansas, Lived in Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Texas.

[@coover65]

As an Australian I just shake my head at the whole "private ambulance" concept. Here EMS is streamlined; each service is state government run. In my state users don't get a bill, and in a state slightly larger than Alaska there are paramedics in every town. Emergency medical care shouldn't be competitive.

[@glhmedic]

Yeah this country loves making money no matter what

[@Benglator1]

glhmedic is right.......... In the US the average birth will cost you $10,808 Average cost of healthcare for lifetime $316,600 Average funeral will be roughly around $10,000 So we are taken for a ride from the time we are born, while alive & till the time we die. Capitalism at it's finest. ;)

[@kings3411]

@@Benglator1 because socialism is somehow better right? Haha what a joke

[@Benglator1]

@@kings3411 When did I say or post socialism is better? I was just agreeing with another poster about how things go in America. So you jump in calling me a joke because you are assuming or thinking I am into socialism This says more about who you are as a person. :|

[@coover65]

@@Benglator1 We have universal healthcare which we call a Medicare levy. Every adult pays 1%-1.5% levy. So at the official average Australian weekly wage of $1,713.90 (US $1251.89) we pay roughly the US equivalent of $12.50-$18.80 a week. How does that compare with US health insurance rates? Bear in mind that ambulance fees aren't covered with this. Some Australian states have ambulance subscription plans.

[@ewilsonheritage]

Privatization of EMS and fire services is a joke and it shows. Sounds like this guy needs to start a new business in a different line of work.

[@eidwsatan4100]

this

[@ronstrulic4388]

I worked for a private EMS company in Northeast PA for years. We always worked with our VFD run EMS. They always transported BLS or ALS. The only time we would transport is if the VFD was unable to establish a crew and we were requested to tx. So the VFD got their cut and the ALS company got to still bill out and overcharge. This was 20 years ago and it still works this way today. Private Ambulance companies never step on the toes of the local EMS service here. In all honesty 911 calls don't make money for private companies. General Transports from care homes with contracts is where the money is made. If this company in this story is relying on 911 to survive, they probably won't for long.

[@Yuppa.69]

Before he set up his ambulance service he should of checked to see if there was a demand for one

[@ahodson2500]

Yeahhh there is. They are the only ALS ambulance service in the county. Meaning no IVs, medications, 12 leads, vents, or paramedics.

[@alanf403]

Private EMS is wonderful said no FF/Paramedic worth his salt

[@2olvets443]

No company should start up if they don't first have the backing and were contracted by the county EMS period. Insurance is already costly and private ambos will drive up rates.

[@SIGINT007]

Shouldnt have hired 21 paramagics without having work for them...just another private EMS boondoggle

[@hunterwoodhead6691]

Only in United States of America is this a problem. This shouldn’t even be a problem

[@bloodmoongrizzlythefirst6492]

Hunter the funny thing is many of you folks who do not live in this country have no idea really how wide open a lot of states are. Some places a Hospital or doctors office could be up to 90km away

[@hunterwoodhead6691]

@@bloodmoongrizzlythefirst6492 I live in BC Canada and I can assure you BC is bigger than any state beside Alaska. In BC an ambulance ride is only $85 from anywhere in the province. This includes air ambulance rides. Our ambulance service is government ran and insures that everyone has access to an ambulance. It should not be a worry that an ambulance company will go of business and leave residents in danger. Please do not talk to me about how spread out some states are because where I lives its probably more spread out and we have found a solution. Stop defending the corrupt system that keeps large businesses wealthy and residents and a disadvantage.

[@SMAAirAssault]

@@hunterwoodhead6691 BC is not a picnic bro. Nobody attacked Canada so chill out.

[@emailaccount7240]

@@hunterwoodhead6691 I hope you realise we do have government ambulances. In this case the county government decided to not fund one. This is where privatization comes in. In Pittsburgh PA, Philadelphia PA, New York New York, San Francisco CA, litterly any city you can name with a decent population there is government ambulances. Out in the rural areas there are counties that simply do not have the population to pay for a government ran ems.

[@kdawg8100]

@@emailaccount7240 AGREED! I ride for a rural EMS agency and there is no government funded ambulance services even close to here, if the independent agencies went out of business we would have no EMS whatsoever and the nearest hospital is 45 minutes away from most places.

[@barefooboy17]

It's all about ego. Sad

[@ems324]

It seems to me that the private Ambulance service is creating a fight because the owner of the private EMS agency is more concerned with making money then actually providing emergency medical care. I don't like private ems agencies because of that exact problem. If there's going to be ALS providers then I think it should be the Fire Dept certifying their personnel as Paramedics and keeping their EMTs so they can provide both ALS and BLS medical service to the residents of the area.

[@hotrodoftheskies]

This. When lives could be on the line, money should come second, no questions asked. Hence why a private EMS company will never be a good idea in my opinion.

[@mikeCD62]

Paramedic school is typically about 2 years and is very intensive. Most firefighters arent thrilled about medical calls in the first place. A paramedic who actually wanted to be a paramedic is going to do a much better job of providing care than a firefighter-paramedic who just wants to fight fires. The firefighters who would make good paramedics likely already are paramedic-firefighters

[@mikeCD62]

But yeah, i do agree that private ambulance companies are a terrible idea

[@SagebrushRambles]

@@mikeCD62 The firefighters don't HAVE to be paramedics. The ones that do want to usually. Why would they do it if they don't want to? The firefighters in this instance are volunteers so they doubly can't be told to train to be paramedics. The county should just hire one in.

[@ronstrulic4388]

The biggest problem with your comment is the amount of time for paramedic training to do the job for free. In the area I live in private companies provide all ALS for the exception of one or two career FDs. The relationship between the volunteers and the private companies has always been good. In quite a few areas the private companies have ALS units stationed in the same buildings as the BLS unit. It is up to the county dispatch to determine the level of the call to dispatch ALS along with the volly BLS unit. The volly unit in most cases transports the patient with the medic aboard. This has worked out for 25 plus years in NEPA. I worked for one of these private companies and we had a great relationship with all the volly BLS companies we assisted. I know this story is 2yrs old but this mix can work. There has to be agreements in place between the towns the county dispatch. The private companies are out to make money but the cost for a small town to fund an ALS unit and all the insurances and medical direction costs a fortune. The private companies pay for this not asking the tax payer. Yes the cost is part of the over charge they do bill.

[@kingarthur5110]

EMS should be run by the municipality/health service/state etc and be separate from the fire department. Private companies are just looking to make a buck and have a tendency to cheap out on equipment and wages. Fire-based services on the other hand are often running with crews who'd rather be riding fire trucks and don't really want to do EMS stuff. Having a dedicated public EMS service is the way to go to ensure best practice in my humble opinion.

[@UmbraKamui]

So much this

[@znovosad555]

you have no idea how true this is. that and not everyone wants to work EMS in a private capacity having to deal with 911s and inter-facility transfers. which is all private EMS should be doing. inter-facility transfers.

[@nightfury8440]

@@znovosad555 What about oil rigs, film shoots, festivals, events, building projects in the middle of no where, etc? Private EMS covers all of those.

[@znovosad555]

@@nightfury8440 private doesn’t always cover events, towns and county do sometimes as well however that’s a different kind of 911 contractual agreement. my point is that private EMS doesn’t belong being contracted as 911 EMS coverage and municipalities should be paying for and running their own 911 only service.

[@znovosad555]

@@nightfury8440 and the film industry tends to cut corners and doesn’t always hire legit companies either. look at WWE. They had metro state contracted for that, of which jeremy and his gang absolutely are not real EMS, and when they show the patient getting loaded into the ambulance there’s nothing in the rig. no equipment whatsoever.

[@SagebrushRambles]

Private ambulance companies charge an arm and a leg for their service. Yes pun intended. This issue is about money for the private company. That's why no one wants to use them.

[@tk-fn8ml]

Well if it's private, refuse their service, if they send you a bill, dont pay it, you didnt ask for them and gave them no permission to do anything.

[@jsncrso]

You can indeed refuse transport with any EMS unit, and they cannot bill you as a result.

[@SagebrushRambles]

The private company charges and bills for showing up even if they don't treat a patient. The patient might not even want them there and they will still receive a bill.

[@SagebrushRambles]

@@jsncrso False. The private companies DO bill a service fee for showing up.

[@jsncrso]

@@SagebrushRambles Not sure where you are at, but in NC, if a private ambulance shows up and you refuse treatment, they cannot bill you

[@poppiarlin5612]

@@SagebrushRambles Not all private companies!

[@FFEMTB08]

Private EMS... All they want is money.

[@jlo5470]

How in the hell has this county been without a 24/7 ALS service all ggeee years? That’s mind blowing.

[@TheTarrMan]

Maybe it shouldn't cost $2,000 for a 5 mile drive.

[@kdawg8100]

Not sure how it works where you are, we bill by the mile though. Nearest hospital to us anywhere from 5-35 miles away depending where in the county you are but we will transport you to a farther away hospital if you need care the “local” hospital (which is not even in the county) can not provide or if you request it. I hope this is an exaggeration for purposes of illustrating a point because if not that’s crazy!

[@patrickdonaghy2070]

@@kdawg8100 You make a good point in reference to transport charges. Pretty much all municipal EMS services where I reside charge by the "loaded " mile. The big ticket items come through the equipment and procedures performed on the patient. Equipment such as I.V. bags and administration kits, O2 tubing and masks, medications, catheters. All are supplied by the hospital here in Maine so the patient get charged the hospital rate. Then the ambulance charge for the procedure as most insurance do no recognize the reason for the equipment, i.e. start an I.V, establish and maintain an airway. The are areas where I reside also has "not for profit" ambulances which are basically private services. They mimic the municipalities but to be unique, they charge station door to station door. The reasoning behind this is to help offset the no transport calls.

[@craigclaassen7346]

Ambulance Services are state run in Australia.

[@lindahoff7391]

That is a shame.

[@craigclaassen7346]

@@lindahoff7391 why? Also Queensland has free service to state residents.

[@dylanbrod429]

In ontario all ambulance services are also run by government, so we don't have to worry about poor quality service or lack of funding.

[@hotrodoftheskies]

Same here in France, and free of charge for victims... I don't understand how fucked up your country has to be to even think that paying for your ambulance is normal... @david hoff, could you please tell us why you think that's a shame ? Maybe I'm missing something

[@craigclaassen7346]

@@lindahoff7391 look up the QAS Clinical Scope of Practice for the skills performed by the states Paramedics, you will find the majority of paramedics in my state are ACP2 level with autonomous protocols that do not require consultation to be performed. Why do you think state run services are a shame?

[@coover65]

Is there a difference in training, equipment and pay between a private ambulance service and county run agencies? Because ours in Australia are state government run (imagine a "California Ambulance Service" being the one and only EMS, with paramedics on the same pay and training from San Diego to the Oregon border and no FD EMS or EMT level except in the most isolated of small communities) we're all basically on the same rate. If I decide to relieve at a station 600 miles away I know that I'll get the same entitlements, wear the same uniform and the truck will have the same drugs and equipment I've been trained to use all while staying with ethe same employer.

[@dylanlam6430]

Most states in my understanding only fully fund police and fire. EMS is pretty much always given to the lowest bidder, mostly the shift started because of economic downturn around the 2000s. Then because of the company getting the 911 contract for as cheap as possible must survive by CHARGING OUT THE ASS to people who will pay it. Homeless people don't pay obviously. Here in the US working as a paramedic is shitty and hard work. Good experience but these companies will run you into the ground.

[@coover65]

@@dylanlam6430 How sad. Here it's a career/profession that's well respected in the community. US EMS staff definitely deserve better from what I've read.

[@patrickdonaghy2070]

Your post reminds me of law enforcement in Wyoming. All officers are licensed to uphold the law for the state, no matter where they are. So an officer who is employed in Rock Springs can effectually make an arrest in Cheyenne on the other side of the state.

[@jerrybutler605]

I have to side with the fire departments on this. If it's just a BLS call let the FD work it if they can handle it themselves.

[@mikeCD62]

We should just fund ems with taxes like every other wealthy country

[@_Ali.]

Sounds like Communism to me...

[@michellegoede2258]

@@_Ali. I really hope you are joking

[@ffjsb]

@@_Ali. You're a special kind of stupid.

[@flamingmoose1479]

@@_Ali. Ah yes, functional emergency services are clearly a sign of communism.

[@_Ali.]

I forgot Americans don’t understand sarcasm. Being a Brit we enjoy and appreciate genuine healthcare that’s free at the point of use. It doesn’t discriminate based on age, gender, sex or wealth. It has its flaws, but by God, not one of us would trade what we have for what Americans call “healthcare”. Yes we all pay for it in our tax, but guess what? It isn’t that much. We don’t pay to use an ambulance, we don’t pay to see a doctor, we pay £9 per prescription for medication, hospital treatment is free. Nothing to sign for, no picking hospitals or ambulance providers, no forms to fill in, no insurance companies. Just treatment. And it’s nothing special, the civilised world believes that everyone should equally be treated.

[@teacher555555]

to this washington first department: i thought beung a fire company you would have learned "its better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it"

[@Anne.411]

Guess they shouldnt have been charging sick people so much to give them a ride to an emergency room

[@curtodell4154]

here where i live the city chased the private company out and doubled the price . dont be a day late paying the bill it instantly goes on your credit report ,and good luck getting it off

[@SagebrushRambles]

The private companies already do that.

[@EOATuco]

We want you here, but we're going to restrict how you can operate and run you out of business so we won't have any ALS capable responders. Talk about the county cutting it's nose off to spite it's face.

[@jaxprodplays]

I think this is pretty cool that EMS And FD Combine.

[@Yalnif5200]

The fire dept. can't stop them. Respond when called.

[@rileycoyote4924]

The FD should just have a couple BLS ambulances and call the Private company for mutual aid/backup. The company I work for does similar backup for a few different cities.

[@poppiarlin5612]

In a real fire department, most don’t want anything to do with EMS transportation. EMS in the fire service locally has caused about 190 personnel to leave over the past two years. You heard correctly. They have no desire to be stuck on an EMS unit. Update, as of November 30, 2020 the Augusta Ga. Commissioners terminated fire department ambulance service. Gold Cross EMS has been contracted for many years to provide this service and will continue to do so. Additionally the fire chief was forced to resign. Too many turn overs, senior staff members are retiring early, aka Self Defense Retirement. I also, retired early. I could have waited till 65. This would have given me 46 years of service. I retired at 60 because of the disaster of FD EMS. My prediction came true. They were more concerned about keeping the ambulances staffed then the fire stations. You would think the Fire Chief would have knowledge of the state pension requirements. In the state of Georgia, your primary job must be firefighting! That means 51% of your time on duty must be on a fire apparatus. He was not executing this and he was also putting people under the pension that were strictly EMS. When this was discovered a lot of people could lose their state pension. Now there’s the pending wrongful death lawsuit involving an adequate EMS, or negligent by the EMS crew. The more the fire services involved in the more likely they are going to be injuries, and possible death of the firefighters. It’s one thing if you take care of your personal when they are injured instead of kicking them to the curb like Augusta Georgia does. Factually you can also substantiate that Workmen’s Comp. injury goes up drastically when dealing with EMS and patient transport. Unfortunately firefighters are traditionally so gung ho they don’t look at the entire picture until something happens to where they are not allowed to come back to work. Sure you have rights, however like in the case of Augusta Georgia you have to fight them legally to get your rights. Then how long are you going to have to go with a reduced salary and try to maintain your family?

[@randallclements8585]

“Real fire dept”…… 😒. Speak for your own dept.

[@grumpymedik]

The way EMS is delivered in the states has always baffled me. To me, it is simple, Firefighters fire fires, EMS is about patient care, and transportation. Leave the fire fighting to firefighters and leave the patient care to the EMS. The two should never me combined. FF's can certainly attend to assist the medical crews but should NEVER be responsible for the main patient care delivery. I have always felt confused by the Fire Departments that want to be involved in EMS. I see it only as a way for the Fire Chiefs to build their empires through call volume. They don't do much in the way of actual fire fighting anymore, so let's get into a part of emergency service that has LOTS of calls. If the fire chiefs were truly concerned about their communities as they always say they are, then you would support Professional EMS and proper funding of the same. Where I live, the ambulance service is completely government funded and run. There is a standard user fee to every citizen under that government. Fire Departments are first responders but only to support patient care until an ambulance crew arrives. The fire departments use these calls to boost their call volume so that they can justify higher funding for their huge empires. The majority of these calls do not need the response of fire departments, but it has been forced by fire chiefs and demanded that they respond with the ambulance crew. it is plain and simple. fire departments should not be responding to ambulance or medical calls. they need to have their man power at the ready for their responsibility, to fight fires and rescue.

[@RKLIFE17]

Fire guys should not transport PERIOD

[@Piazzafan1]

Yeah no, there's NO reason for ALS to respond to purely BLS calls just because ALS wants to stay open as a business

[@seanwink2379]

BLS calls can turn into an ALS REALLY quick.

[@jasonflegner8919]

The taxpayers should be furious. If there is a higher level of service, LET them respond. After assessment, if the patient is deemed BLS, the fire department can transport.

[@ThatDamnPandaKai]

I think the issue here is that whoever transports a patient gets to bill them. 85% of 911 calls are BLS, which means if the ambulance is only allowed to transport ALS, they're only making 15% of the potential income.

[@ems324]

No that's not how it works. Here in NYS where I'm an EMT, Paramedics can't respond to an ALS call, but then determine it's BLS and tell us to transport. The medic is the highest level of care in the field and if they had the patient off to a lesser level of training it would be patient abandonment by the medic.

[@jessesmoviesman]

@@ems324 wtf? You're nuts.

[@breazealeaaron5205]

@@ems324 absolutely- you never hand off to a lesser qualified provider. That is a NREMT standard that every EMT, EMT-I, and EMT-P(paramedic) has to abide by, regardless of state.

[@dankstakc]

@@jessesmoviesman nope, he’s absolutely correct. That’s national standard of care. You only ever hand off a patient to someone with equal or greater level of training. A medic will never give an EMT a patient.

[@ComradeTomatoTurtle]

This sounds more like a town issue or a pass agreement issue, not enough info to pass judgment. Why would there be a private ambulance in the town if it wasn’t needed? What happen to the ambulance company before this, did they get all the bls calls too? Like it seems they’re in the town because the fire department couldn’t handle EMS calls or they have no ALS providers. I think there compromise could be covering different times, areas or they could have ALS or the paid staff work together with fires EMS. Lil bias opinion, fire doesn’t like EMS calls anyway.

[@bloodmoongrizzlythefirst6492]

Many small towns are ran by volunteers. Them EMT's are not trained as well in advance life saving and sometimes keeping a bunch of trained paramedics on hand can be very costly so private companies come in But to pay a Private ALS company to come out to non life threating calls with their fees is a joke.

[@holzi4788]

Here in Germany, the volunteer fire departments only handle firefighting and technical rescues. The job of the "medics" is divided up to private organizations and fire departments with employed Firefighters. As far as I know, there aren't many complications between departments. (rough explanation)

[@hotrodoftheskies]

Interesting, by private organizations, do you mean companies, or like, volunteers (like the Rettenkreuz for instance, don't even know if they're volunteers) ?

[@holzi4788]

@@hotrodoftheskies there are private companies that only handle Emergency calls, they have employees

[@timheunisch]

@@hotrodoftheskies in a few bigger cities the FD, in some county’s EMS operated by the county but mainly the Red Cross (not volunteers!) and similar organizations. Sometimes private companies. Volunteers are only a backup if no ambulance is available.

[@stephenstrykowski4790]

Its not the municipalities job to subsidize private ambulance services. The residents already pay for units manned by volunteers, the private company should respond only when they are requested.

[@darrenbednarz8286]

Get a real fire department

[@adxco]

You must be an idiot

[@darrenbednarz8286]

@@adxco hey jake I just retired as a firefighter/paramedic/lieutenant after 25 yrs due in the Parkland shootings, proud to say for the city of Coral Springs Fire department professional firefighter local 3080 . Great pension so who’s the real idiot

[@VarleyET]

@@darrenbednarz8286 maybe the guy who says, "get a real fire department" in a rural town that could never afford it.

[@znovosad555]

they’re both wrong. I work for a private commercial ambulance service myself and while i like the company i work for, i still don’t agree with private EMS taking over in the capacity that they do and have. Private EMS does not belong doing a municipality’s job. Municipalities whether county, town, city, etc in my opinion should be paying for and running their own 911 EMS services. especially when people have been volunteering in these districts for so long, and then they get the shaft and all the years and dedication of hard work, everything they built up within the community is gone when they decide to contract somebody else to do it instead. it’s wrong. the only time you should see a private service on a 911 call in my opinion, is when they’re called for mutual aid when there’s absolutely no other resource option.

[@wcsoblake85]

I would say in my experience that 85% of 911 medical calls are Basic level. That is a huge money making percentage.

[@robertmccabe2993]

Are you kidding me thats spupid they have better training and thats what you need in services

[@jessesmoviesman]

Even spupider is your comment.

[@crappyaccount]

@@jessesmoviesman Good joke, ignore my original comment if you were notified of it, as I misread :)

[@Sucknutz_]

@@crappyaccount you missed the joke

[@jessesmoviesman]

@@crappyaccount you still don't get it. go ask your mom what it means.

[@crappyaccount]

@@Sucknutz_ ah yes, i appear to have read the word in the original comment the correct way and only caught the errror when jesse mocked it. thanks for informing me.

[@SMAAirAssault]

As someone who has done BLS for a few years its unnecessary and just a w ay to run up bills. Next time do not hire 21 employees before you have even opened. Try taking a business class, it can really help you understand some of these things in them. That is your fault as an owner that you need to take responsibility for. Just like the city took financial responsibility by breaking up ALS and BLS calls.

[@EricWhiteTheGamer]

Get rid of one of the ambulance service!

[@SagebrushRambles]

The private one yes. It's about the dollar with them nothing else.

[@EricWhiteTheGamer]

Get rid of privet or at least move them to public and work side with the fire department. Also they could train the BLS firefighters as ALS fire and rescue. I don’t see why any area needs more then one ambulance service unless it is a big city where they need ALS and BLS and the dispatch center can triage them and send BLS and if an ALS is needed then call them and the other way, if ALS is sent but only BLS is needed and then the one not needed anymore can leave once the one that is needed is on scene and can take over.

[@koryrichey2443]

Private ems is often the cheaper route for tax payers. If the private isn’t charging a millage or in the county budget. I guarantee those fore departments are included in the budget. So they have two choices. Move over and let the privates in or upgrade to als.

[@code3wnc944]

Volunteer works way better trust me private EMS is just a way to take money it would be better to have a county ems

[@coover65]

It seems that your volunteers are utilised very different to ours. Our "First responders" are residents in small (town of 100-1000 people) communities who stabilise and provide BLS treatment until paramedics arrive. By law here you have to be a Registered Paramedic to be employed as a professional. Our First Responders haven't had the training to make clinical judgement calls on whether a patient needs to be transported or just treated at home.

[@WalrusWinking]

It's called capitalism if the need for those ambulances aren't there then let them die out. If the need arises after a decade or so a new company will either come in or be started in that area. Supply and Demand.

[@hotrodoftheskies]

100% True, if you put away the fact that EMS should not be a business at all... What on earth is this, who thinks private emergency services are a good idea ? I'd rather have to pay more taxes and have well funded, public services, rather than companies that, by definition, will try to limit their expenses/inflate their prices to make money.

[@craigclaassen7346]

Weird way to look at things. Effectively deeming small towns with little EMS work to have a lower standard of service to those living in higher population areas.

[@hotrodoftheskies]

@@craigclaassen7346 That's only true, because, the way I understand it, the US system relies primarily on municipalities to do the job; Less or poorer citizens = less money = less services (Feel free to correct me). Maybe a state-wide EMS could be created. These private companies only exist because public alternatives are costly to maintain, and are extra-expensive because they are mostly setup on such a small scale (town or county). A bigger scale would enable to save money on supplies, personnel, vehicles, training... and provide the same level of service across the state, no matter if it's a small town in the countryside, a poor neighborhood, or the leading city.

[@nightfury8440]

@@hotrodoftheskies state wide EMS won't happen. Small towns don't have much in the way of EMS because they rarely have proper trauma centers. Nor will they ever have a proper trauma center because no one builds trauma centers in a town with 2,000 people. Maybe a beefy urgent care or something like that.

[@bloodmoongrizzlythefirst6492]

Sounds like his own damn problem higher 21 people for 2 meat wagons yeah.. no.

[@zxej6879]

This is an example of holes in our health care system. Our health insurance should pay the ambulance company. So the company will respond. Otherwise the local goveenment must upgrade their staffing and services. The officials are an impediment to the well being of the community.

[@kdawg8100]

The issue is that in most places in the US we have small EMS agencies that receive no local government assistance and if you or your insurance doesn’t pay our bill we don’t make a cent. The local government can’t afford to operate an ambulance service and much of the time we are only paid a fraction of what we bill if we get anything, bad situation no matter how you look at it but nothing local government can do.

[@bernardschmitt6389]

Emergency services should be government ran the idea that private companies can run EMS is bullshit

[@dakodagordon854]

I love this yall in public safety a BLS can turn into a ALS or even a cortical it’s happened to us. Yes these people need an want money but damn it’s no different than the county or city charging money for a ride or even a response. News flash responding to anything is not free.

[@jonnahmccrae3259]

Maybe dont keep health care private... i live in canada my ride to the hospital comes from the hospital and takes me there for free

[@brandons2411]

Not free, nothings free. Its paid by your massive income taxes. Dont pretend its so great LOL.

[@derpyhuman1583]

in the u.s it depends where you live big cities like new york have both fdny and hostpital ambulances like nyu langone or mount sinai.Also in some suburban towns like where I live the closest hospital supported ambulance service for my township until we could create their own and still does for others. At the end of the day it depends where you live and how big the hospitals are.

[@jonnahmccrae3259]

@@brandons2411 massive ?? Take home 1000 a week and taxes is 100, then at the end of the year i get 900 back... so i paid 300 dollars in taxes for the year ?

[@jonnahmccrae3259]

That’s one trip to the hospital for you.

[@jonnahmccrae3259]

@@derpyhuman1583 i had no idea and that’s awesome! I hope it reaches across all of America for you

[@Watchingyou-daily]

The fire jurisdiction has the authority over EMS in their county. So they have the legal authority to deny the ambulance company un BLS calls.

[@ems324]

No they don't. That's not how it works. The Fire Department doesn't have ANY legal authority over anyone. They can't make the determination who responds to EMS calls, that would be the counties job.

[@mauriliotorres2591]

This co-owner guy looks shady AF!

[@casperhoss2952]

Fire is fire and ems is ems. Let ems do their job! They are a part of the brotherhood. If your not going to live the brotherhood then don't preach it! Support your local ems and yes I can say this I am a retired fire chief.

[@dansden1982]

This isn't squad 51 1970s. This is the 21st century. Unless its a motor vehicle accident or A Hazardous Materials situation, EMS should primarily be EMTs and Paramedics. If they need assistance only then should Fire get involved. Fire needs to stay focused on Fire related emergencies NOT Medical emergencies. Leave it to the truly unsung heroes who take and get very little or no credit for the "dirty work" that is done mostly behind the scenes with also very little or no thanks. Since 1966 EMS has evolved into the very profession that it is today. Sure the pay could be better but as an EMT here in my city its American Ambulance of Fresno, CA. founded in 1984. And since 1992 Fire no longer handles EMS primarily and there are still more than enough fire related calls for the Fresno FD since then. American Ambulance of Fresno ,CA. Currently has 200 ambulances serving a 100 square mile metropolitan area and it works out just fine. Level 0 is rare in this city.

[@phil7574]

I'm from Michigan originally and all of our Firefighters are paramedics as well. Makes no sense to have separate departments.

[@hotrodoftheskies]

In France, all firefighters are trained in BLS, run their own ambulances and handle all emergency calls. In severe scenarios, a few units (SMUr) armed with a paramedic, a nurse and a medic are available throughout the state. Military FDs (Paris and Marseille) even run their own ALS ambulances with the same crew as above. These emergency services are state-run and free of charge. I don't understand how you guys can't have the same system state-wide, or at least something better than private companies...

[@caomhnoir386]

Majority of calls for service in the fire service is medical now-a-days, lol what. Majority of the fire department's job has transitioned to emergency medical services, that's why you see more and more department's transitioning to Firefighter/EMT (or Paramedic) staff. Most fire departments won't even hire you unless you have an EMT certification, lol. Sounds to me like this bald schmuck is hungry for money that the volunteer firefighters give NO FUCKS about, just protecting their community. Why in the fuck would anyone want to wait for a private ambulance when there is a fire department ambulance there already? Private ambulances are a scam and all they care about is money.

[@phil7574]

@@caomhnoir386 My father was a Michigan state trooper for 32 years and even the troopers had to be EMT-B or Intermediate certified.

[@apolloniaaskew9487]

In the State of Tennessee, ALL firefighters are required to have paramedic training. When the Paramedic program started in the 1970s most went under fire department jurisdiction, others like New York City and San Francisco were under the Department of Public Health. Even those cities placed their EMS programs under their fire departments. Many State Police agencies train their troopers with paramedic duties. In the northeast U.S. the Nassau County Police have paramedic ambulances.

[@bw7471]

Lives my ass, they are all about the MONEY!!!!

[@barnaclebill1615]

Fire departments provide BASIC life support... until the PROFESSIONALS “Paramedic” arrive with more training. It’ll take a late suit and a death to change this nonsense. 😊

[@IncredulousIndividual]

Your comment is stupid

[@IncredulousIndividual]

Taketheshot56 cool story bro, tell bill

[@theGiantworm86]

Some departments have ambulances and trained paramedics. If that's the case whoever can stabilize and transport the victim the quickest should be the ones that transport the patient. In my department we have trained paramedics and emts but no apparatus for transport. So we stabilize and assist the ambulance service when they arrive. In the end whatever gets the patient stabilized and to the hospital the fastest is what should be done.

[@tonypuntillo4931]

your incorrect, fire depts provide bls and als as well.

[@brianholleman5928]

@@tonypuntillo4931 Some fire depts provide both. fixed that for ya

[@mikeylikesit64]

That’s what happens when everything is privatized , there isn’t enough for everyone to eat.

[@lindathrall5133]

IT SEEMS LIKE THE PARAMEDIC GUARDS AREN'T ALLOWED TO DO THEIR GUARD DUTY AS THEY'VE BEEN TRAINED

[@IncredulousIndividual]

Calm down Linda

[@SagebrushRambles]

Okay guard lady. Paramedics aren't guards unless they are in the National Guard. lol.

[@drf8879]

Low acuity call or not I want to see paramedics when their needed not firemen

[@cooltechstuff4387]

I agree I don’t agree with this... instead they should respond with FD and the Ambulance company.. that’s what we do around here.. unless it’s a person that just needs a ambo ride or something they won’t need us for..

[@buzman1985]

Then go out of business.

[@darrenbednarz8286]

I would never live in a city I that has a volunteer department I want paid professional firefighters, I know when I called 911 are there.

[@tonypuntillo4931]

just to inform you, there are more volunteer firefighter/emts in the united states than professional firefighters, i know this cause i was one for 20 years. professionals get paid. volunteers do it without getting paid.

[@ecoreas3878]

Volunteers trying to feel important.

[@caomhnoir386]

The majority of the United States is comprised of volunteer fire departments, do research before running your mouth off like a five-year-old you uneducated fuck.

[@ecoreas3878]

@@caomhnoir386 sounds like a triggered volunteer. If it makes you feel any better, thank you for your service bro. You definitely fight what we fear.

[@bobafett6597]

@@ecoreas3878 How is he a triggered volunteer when he speaks the truth? We dont need to feel important when our job description is to serve the community and not be political showboats. Would you like to join and go through what we go through? If not, go back to running your mouth on more political videos where your comments mean more than here. You dont have the experience to talk about this if you arent one of us.