I read this article and…yawned. I mean, where’s the fire?
The system is using backup providers to cover the primary system operator when resources are low. Actually, I hope they use the closest available unit to respond to the most critical calls.
The system ran out of ambulances 27 times during the past six months. Um, okay. I’m not sure if I know of any system that doesn’t go to “level zero” on occasion. Having an ambulance immediately available every minute of the day, every day of the year, would be an even more expensive proposition than it already is.
And why are we continuing to use antiquated, nonsensical, noneffective ways of measuring system performance? Those days are over. In fact, measuring response times never really made any sense to begin with.
Do I need to be at the bedside of every one of my patients in 8 minutes or less? Hardly. Do I need the right interventionalist at the critical call in the same time frame? Now we’re talking.
Think how sane any EMS system would be if it stopped zooming to every call. We could reduce ambulance crashes. We could send the appropriately staffed and equipped unit, saving precious health care dollars.
Given the upcoming changes in health care reimbursement, we all need to evaluate how we will become partners with other health care providers and change our role from transportation specialists to routine and follow-up care providers.
Now, if the debate was about that, I’d be interested.
