Few people realize that the New Britain EMS Service is a non-profit corporation not actually operated by the city. The EMS service is suffering from financial problems due in part by the number of transports they perform for the uninsured and the lower payments they receive for Medicaid transports--$208 versus $435 for Medicare transports—but there is more to the story than just the fees.
At their regular Wednesday night meeting, the city council approved a measure that will authorize the mayor to purchase the equipment and negotiate a lease to the EMS service at a rate that will allow them to keep operating at least for the time being.
New Britain EMS responds to all calls for medical aid in the city without regard to a victim’s insurance or ability to pay. New Britain residents are also fortunate that we have one of the best equipped, best trained, most efficient EMS services in the state. The people of New Britain need to decide if they want to keep receiving such valuable services, and then if they do, we all have to make a commitment to these professionals to provide the financial assistance needed to keep the program running efficiently.
THE REST OF THE STORY:
Many of you are probably of the opinion that the fees charged for transports should be able to provide the needed finances to run an operation like this one, but that has been proven wrong in a number of studies nationwide. Many of you may remember all the problems a few years back with the contract ambulance services in Hartford and all the reports that surfaced about the lack of response, poor response times, and just no ambulances being available for life threatening emergencies. During that period, there was a lot of attention given to studies in Sarasota County Florida, Los Angeles City Fire Dept, and a number of other cities.
Sarasota County reported similar problems as Hartford was experiencing with a contract ambulance service having unacceptable response times, and no ambulances available when needed for serious life threatening emergencies. What they determined in the Sarasota case was that there is a direct conflict between profitability and the proper deployment of ambulances for the needs of public safety.
In many cases public safety needs dictate that an ambulance, staffed with a fully trained and equipped EMS crew is kept stationary for hours on end simply waiting for a call. Public safety needs dictate that this crew be ready to respond on a moment’s notice for the next life or death emergency call. The quick response time needed to maintain such a response requires that these crews be in standby just waiting for that call, and this is anything but profitable. It is this conflict between public safety needs and profitability that has been at the route of most failures we have seen with privatization of EMS services nationwide. In the Sarasota case, they had abandoned the arrangement with the contract company and opted for their fire department taking over the EMS service and stationing their own ambulances at fire houses throughout the county.
That might be a little too drastic for our needs here in New Britain. We already have established one of the best EMS programs in the state, so quite frankly, if it isn’t broke, let’s not try to fix it. What we need to do is make sure our city is committed to making sure they are given the financial support they need to continue doing the great job they are already doing. The council has already taken the first step by allowing the mayor to purchase the equipment and leasing it back to them. A number of other Connecticut communities have been faced with similar financial problems with their EMS programs and had to resort to appropriating funds to keep them operating. If that is what we need to do to keep those ambulances rolling then that would be money well spent.
11 comments:
Nice work Mr. Smith. We need to make sure the city keeps the money flowing to keep the ambulance rolling as you put it in your story.
Some eight years ago the EMS, subsequent to my being found unconscious on the floor of my apartment, administrated all their expertise in order to save my life and transported me to the hospital.
My first battle with cancer was about to begin with my subsequently becoming a laryngectomee.
I strongly urge our City Council members to support the city’s efforts in maintaining the current level of service that the EMS has been noted in providing our citizens.
Keep EMS Rolling without any reduce services.
I support Mr. Smith's Plea. I have seen him around town and he speaks with a speech aid and it doesn't seem to emabarrass him at all. We need more courage's people like him in town.
The City should furnish the money needed to maintain the good services provided by the EMS organaization.
Do not let the mayor reduce the services of the EMS. The city council at least owes that service to all our citizens
I agree, New Britain EMS does a great job, and the city needs to step up to make sure they can continue to. I was amazed to hear some of the Charge vs. Pay numbers that they deal with in regards to medicare and medicaid. They are truly not in this situation due to mismanagement.
I also want to recognize the great job the firefighters do as first responders. Also the great job the dispatchers do as well.
I am sure there are many stories about the heroic efforts of these fine men and women saving lives throughout the city. When the city is deciding whether they are worth the money, hopefully they will consider how much the lives of their loved ones may be worth!
EMS needs the city's financial support in order to continue to provide thier good services to the residents.
Now that the Mayor has been approved by the City Council to negotiate with the EMS to purchase their equipment.
Let us hope that no reduction of services will be allowed by the city council in order to save money over the ability of saving lives.
How much is one life worth? Who decides?
Why hasn't it been mentioned that a major problem with the EMS financial situation is the fact that Medicaid (not necessarily Medicare) and/or welfare only pays up to $99 for their share of ambulance costs?
It gets a bit tiring to blame all the world's problems on the Mayor's office.
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