By Jodi Rogstad
Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
Copyright 2007 Cheyenne Newspapers, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The company that provides ambulances to all of Laramie County has pledged to catch up with the growing demand for its services.
One week ago Mayor Jack Spiker put American Medical Response on notice.
If ambulances continue to be tied up when people need them, Spiker said, the city will sever its contract with AMR, set to expire in 2008.
Through May of this year, 53 people throughout the county who called for ambulances were told they would have to wait. In 2006, there were 73 of what are known in the industry as Code 10 calls.
Thursday, Spiker and Cheyenne Fire and Rescue Chief Guy Cameron got a response from AMR.
Stephen Willoughby, Cheyenne’s operations manager, said he also is troubled by the number of Code 10 calls.
“None are really acceptable,” he said Friday. “We try to eliminate them completely.
“AMR has always been committed to resolving those and making sure they don’t occur.”
He said they are working “very diligently” to resolve these issues.
“My goal to stay in community,” he added.
Willoughby said in the letter that the company is monitoring the system every day and “will add additional resources as necessary.”
AMR had added a unit in February, he said.
“While appearing to initially help, it is clear by May’s report this was not enough additional coverage,” Willoughby said.
Last month - on 20 occasions - there were no ambulances available when someone needed one, though the city’s fire squads have paramedics and the county’s volunteer fire districts have EMTs.
Spiker and Cameron both said AMR should have a chance to make things right.
But the letter validates their concerns, Cameron said, adding that “we’re going to watching that closely.”
“They now recognize they have a problem,” Cameron said. “That means it’s not just a problem in the city; that’s a problem wherever you live.
“I hope service improves for both city and county residents.”
Laramie County officials have said they will not get on board with the city’s ultimatum.
County Commissioner Jeff Ketcham and emergency management director Rob Cleveland both have said AMR is doing a good job. They said the rate of Code 10 calls in the county is infrequent.
But Spiker said, “It’s still worse in the county.”
The volunteer fire districts don’t have trained paramedics, they have EMTs, he added.
In the letter, Willoughby proposed adding a safety net for Cheyenne Fire and Rescue: AMR would give a fully stocked ambulance to the department. If the city needed to use it, then AMR would reimburse the city.
Already, each city fire squad has a certified paramedic. The only thing these people can’t do is give the patient a ride to the emergency room.
The ambulance would facilitate this when AMR’s paramedics were tied up.
But Cameron seemed lukewarm to that idea. AMR is under contract to remedy Code 10, so its responsibility is to add staff and equipment, he said.
“We had to be the driving force to remedy (the Code 10 calls),” Cameron said.