"Denied", were the words heard by the American Ambulance Association on January 17, 1996, with their recent attempt to wield influence on members of Congress about commercializing the EMS industry. At the first-ever Congressional Fire Service Institute (CSFI) EMS Task Force meeting, representatives from the commercial sector, including the AAA tried to set up a separate EMS system under the CSFI.
In essence, the CFSI's National Advisory Committee (NAC) would have an EMS caucus under the CFSI equal to the fire caucus. This EMS caucus would obviously be dominated by commercial service interests. Kudos to the Task Force who stood firm in their vote not to let this happen. In the end, only three votes went to the commercial industry for their proposal. The Task Force did recommend; (1) an EMS person be added to the CFSI to oversee EMS issues; (2) increase the EMS representation on the NAC; and (3) an EMS breakout session be included in all CSFI meetings.
The Reason Foundation has raised its ugly head once again. In 1994, the Foundation which promotes privatization of public services wrote a report advocating the privatization of Los Angeles FD paramedic operations. In response, the Chief of LAFD at the time, Donald Manning, wrote a 22 page report clearly outlining "this system would convert tax dollars into profit for the private provider. The result would be a lower level of service to the community."
Now in the December 1995 issue of a publication called "Privatization Watch", The Reason Foundation is touting its publication, "Privatizing Emergency Medical Services; How Cities Can Cut Costs and Save Lives." Ironically, the report only talks about privatizing the transport component of EMS where the revenue is generated. The first responder part and its financial burden would have to be the responsibility of the local fire agency. In my opinion, this public/private cooperative is nothing but a "gratuitous, hand-holding, government sponsored operation to cover up shoddy response times of commercial ambulance companies trying to hold down costs for the sake of more profit". As one LAFD Captain told me, "If they want a public/private cooperative, let the FD do the transport and they (commercial providers) can do the first response."
Anne Arundel County (MD) Fire Department under the direction of Chief Stephen Halford has convened a 10-member panel to look at long range EMS planning issues. Chief Halford said "We need a long range plan to manage a service that is sure to expand. I want to know where we should be ten years from now." The panel, called EMS Committee 2000 consist of citizens and physicians from the community.
The committee has been charged with 12 different tasks including the review of existing resources and how such services are configured, plus they can solicit individual comments from any interested parties internal or external to the department. Unfortunately, some of those external sources have been representatives from AMR, Rural/Metro, and commercial-consultant and Anne Arundel resident Jack (rip the Fire Departments) Stout.
Battalion Chief and PIO J. Gary Sheckells denies there is any move toward commercialization. He assures me the committee is merely looking at all issues involved in the delivery of EMS. AACFD has a long and enjoyable reputation as being viewed as one of the most progressive EMS-fire based systems in Maryland. Hopefully, the committee will see the worth and benefits of continuing a strong fire-based EMS system in their community.
Two thumbs down to Newsweek Magazine. When writing about the recent snowstorm and police use of Humvees in Washington D.C., page 29 of their 1/22/96 edition says, "Not so for ambulance drivers, who had to tromp for blocks through two- foot snow to retrieve the sick and injured." How do you think this journalist would like being called a "newspaperguy?"
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.
(Ed. Note: Mr. Ludwig and the Internation Assn. of Fire Chiefs are responsible for the contents of this column. Please address comments, questions, or suggestions to Mr. Ludwig at the numbers given above. It is presented by ERRI as a public service)