Last year, the St. Louis Post Dispatch ran a series of articles profiling EMTs and paramedics throughout Missouri who had been issued medical licenses by the State of Missouri, although they had criminal convictions for drugs, drunk driving, child abuse, etc. Missouri had no policy for doing criminal background checks on individuals applying for medical licenses. In fact, a good percentage of states also had no policy.
As a result, Ken Cole, the Missouri State Director and 20-year veteran was transferred to another position. In response, the National Association of State EMS Directors (NASEMSD) developed a guideline and passed a resolution encouraging each state to implement a policy based on the NASEMSD's new guidelines for handling the certificiation, licensure, or registration of medics with criminal backgrounds. If your department or state does not do background checks, fully expect them to be done in the future at the state level. The NASEMSD can be reached at 619-431-7054.
AMR plans to offer a new issue of $110 million of 5.25% convertible subordinated notes due in the year 2001. The notes will be convertible into common shares at $37.75 a share. Additionally, they may also plan to issue an additional $15 million of notes to cover over-allotments.
Couple this with their recent credit line of $150 million, and a secondary stocking offering last year of 4.25 million shares at about $25.50 each which raised $108.3 million, and we're talking about $368.3 million in their war chest to be used for corporate purposes, acquisitions of commercial ambulance services, or competition with fire agencies.
On December 4, 1995, for the third time in 1995, four executives of AMR sold off nearly 200,000 shares of their stock holdings. Either the executives think the stock has topped out or their financial advisors told them to take their year end profits.
Not everything is happy in the AMR camp. After losing several lawsuits for control of ambulance service in Sacramento (CA) and the recent favorable appellate court decision in California for fire agencies, AMR decided to settle the suit by paying the city of Sacramento $850,000.
AMR employees in Illinois are looking at unionizing after it was predicted that between 60 and 140 paramedics and EMTs would be laid off. According to the Orland Park (IL) Star, "The dispatcher called people in off the street, laid some off and assigned their partners with new teammates".
Congratulations to Chief Vance Riley with the Victoria (TX) Fire Department. In December, the City Council voted to merge the Victoria EMS Department into the Victoria Fire Department. The premise behind the merger was that it would be more cost effective and efficient. Chief Riley started laying the groundwork for the merger last April. Firefighters voluntarily will be trained as EMTs and then paramedics will be cross-trained as firefighters. Chief Riley can be reached at 512-572-6600.
With yet another angle by commercial (private) providers to circumvent 9-1-1 and expand their business, Careline Southeast, a subsidiary of Medtrans, has applied for and acquired permission to use 3-1-1 in the Atlanta metro area. Starting in mid-February, Atlanta residents can dial the three digit number to be connected directly to Careline Southeast's communications center. In 1994, Acadian Ambulance in Louisiana and Priority EMS of New Orleans were granted permission to use 3-1-1. The National Emergency Number Association (NENA) opposes these uses since confusion can occur in an emergency and the wrong number can be dialed.
Quick Quiz: What EMS Conference has over 63 sessions with well-known EMS leaders and educators, 21 physcian lectures, mock disaster drills, fire, management, educator, clincal tracks, and a large exhibitor display. It is EMS Expo! Co-sponsored by the EMS Section, EMS Expo is slated for Atlanta, April 18-20, 1996. For more information or the brochure, contact the Conference Management Corporation at 800-243-3238.
Gary G. Ludwig is on the Executive Board of the EMS Section and is with the St.Louis Fire Department, responsible for EMS and communications. He can be reached at 314-533-4175; fax 314-289-1977; AOL at GaryLudwig; or LUDWIGSTLFD on ICHIEFS.