Fuel for the ambulance and quick response vehicles is likely a significant line item for any EMS organization budget. Although gasoline and diesel prices vary significantly throughout the U.S. the price of fuel has been steadily declining since last summer.[1]
We asked you, EMS field professionals and managers, to share how your EMS service is (or should) use the savings from record low gas and diesel prices. Here are some of your best responses.
Pragmatic responses … save it for a rainy day
Many responders have a pragmatic outlook about current prices and expect the prices of gas and diesel for ambulances to rise again and soon.
- “Save the money for when the price skyrockets again.” — Russell S.
- “Reserve fund for when the price starts to go up again.” — Robert G.
- “Rainy day fund for periods of high overtime, low call volume periods, and the eventual rise in fuel price.” — Mike E.
Address actual and current needs
Some of you identified specific and immediate needs to apply fuel savings, with training being the top recommendation.
- “Training. Training. Training.” — Jim J.
- “Putting it into training.” — Justin L.
- “Everybody needs equipment replaced or work on the rigs. Or save it for when you do.” — Elizabeth D.
- “Repairing or replacing rigs.” Leanne B.
- “Invest it, use it to pay off loans, buy new equipment.” — Dylan T.
- “PIZZA PARTY!!!” — Clay G.
EMS managers, listen up
For many of this was a chance to make a specific request to management.
- “Start an emergency fund that is used for the EMS attendants that work so hard to keep you alive.” — TC S.
- “Give me that raise I was promised six months ago.” — AJ C.
- “Girding their loins against prices going back up ... it’s wonderful to say ‘yay give everyone raises,’ but unfortunately those raises could turn into layoffs when the prices go back up, up and away.” — Catherine E.
- “Paying our EMT’s more than $9/hour and medics more than $12.50/hour.” — Devon M.
- “Give me a raise so I’m not considered below the poverty level. People flipping burgers make more than me saving lives!” — Jennie K.
- “Invest in electric powered ambulances and sell all remaining fueled trucks.” — Gabe R.
Seriously, listen up!
Tongue-in-cheek jabs at management, on this question and many others, are often a theme of responses to EMS1 Facebook posts. For EMS managers, remember that comments about your organization’s ‘suck factor’ are a window into your organization’s culture.
- “I’m sure the savings will “trickle down” to the employees in the form of raises, haha.” — Rob C.
- “I’m sure the owner of my company will just pocket the savings and buy a new boat or something.” — Patrick P.
- “Stock it!!! Everywhere, suction containers, urinals.... etc... ha jk jk. We should be using smarter efficiant ambulances for our LD tx’s other than our huge diesel guzzlers now...” — Jordan R.
Fuel might not be a significant budgetary line item
Finally, several of you wanted to make sure the relative importance of fuel prices was understood. As a line item in the budget, fuel costs might be dwarfed by personnel costs (pay and benefits) and the realities of fixed or reduced reimbursement from health care payers.
- “Most who read this probably don’t fully understand the frightening, unsustainable economic realities of our industry. Fuel is 2.5 percent of my overall operating budget. It would have to be practically free to have any meaningful impact on the operation of my business. Fixed or reduced reimbursement along with double-digit insurance premium increase each year (10 percent of my operating budget), which is likely what your service is facing too. In short, we all better embrace radical change. Mutate or die.” — Todd V.
EMS management tip
Our final comment is an EMS manager tip to stabilize and predict fuel prices by using a bid process to buy fuel on an annual contract at a fixed price.
- “Any EMS system that doesn’t buy fuel on a contact price needs new management. It’s called bid proposals for a price that holds over a year.” — Ron M.
References
[1] Regular gasoline and on-highway diesel fuel prices. U.S. Energy Information Agency. http://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/