South Central EMS Hosts State Visitors
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SILVER LAKE - Two state emergency management agency representatives did a little cowboying Saturday afternoon, and headed off what could have been a stampede of a meeting at the pass.
Amid accusations of the service not being available or not responding in a timely fashion, State Operations Manager Bernie White made it clear the meeting was an in-service for members of the South Central Kosciusko Emergency Medical Service.
"I'm here at the request of several people," White said. "Just so everyone is on the same page. It's not unusual that I'm here."
In-service meetings are regularly held as part of state requirements for certification.
Rules and regulations books were distributed to members.
White, regional manager, oversees 138 emergency medical services in 18 counties.
A soft-spoken, slow-speaking man, White explained that some of the rules required by the state EMS commission are specific, some are vague.
"Everyone is on a level playing field," he said. "There are things we expect of you and there are things we demand of you."
For example, run reports are kept for seven years.
A basic ambulance is required to have certain pieces of equipment and a certain amount of supplies.
White detailed a host of other criteria for the ambulance service to be in operation.
White conducts ambulance inspections and audits. He makes sure each service has the correct equipment in the right amounts and that it is maintained properly.
All EMS apply to the state commission every two years.
South Central's application indicates it will provide service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An emergency medical technician and a driver are expected to respond - unless the ambulance is out of service.
Not having an EMT available can take the ambulance out of service as surely as an engine problem.
"You're not in the ambulance business," White said. "You're in the people business - taking care of neighbors."
The SCKEMS was criticized lately because it has reportedly missed runs. Either no one called central dispatch and placed the ambulance out of service or someone did phone in the out-of-service status and central dispatch did not take note.
County EMS Coordinator Carla Gebert said the ambulance was marked in-service.
Although seven EMTs have signed up with South Central, few are available during the day.
"South Central says it is a 24-7," White said. "If the tones go off and no one shows up, its a violation.
"You can run two hours a day and on weekends if you want to. You will do what you say you'll do. There are other services to cover the area."
Tony Pagan, the state's EMS director of public safety, reviewed training requirements for EMTs, saying a fifth level would soon be added.
He described the intermediate-level EMT as being able to do the same things as a paramedic.
Currently, the state certifies first responders, basic EMTs, advanced EMTs and paramedics.
The intermediate EMT would fit between advanced EMT and paramedic.
Certified basic EMTs could jump to intermediate EMTs without a stop at advanced, Pagano said. Everyone begins at the basic level.
Pagano recognized the commitment in hours and dollars given by each member.
In addition to classroom study, basic EMTs must also serve 200 hours on EMS runs, often a six-month process.
White saw much of the service's problem as stemming from internal communications.
He advised the group get a department chaplain.
"It doesn't have to be an ordained minister," he said. "But maybe you need a mediator."
The words "back-stabber" and "liar" flew through the air several times without being directed at a specific person.
Gebert was specific, however. '"Your operational and internal issues are huge," she said. "They are separating your system, your constituents and not helping your patients."
White said the state couldn't help them with their feelings about one another. He said they couldn't lose anymore people, though.
And Gebert said SCKEMS's problems were being faced by the other emergency services in the county, too, and were all solvable.
The service was advised that the $300 charge for emergency runs and $200 charge for non-emergency runs was a bit low. Other services charge $450 for non-emergency runs and more for emergency runs. [[In-content Ad]]
SILVER LAKE - Two state emergency management agency representatives did a little cowboying Saturday afternoon, and headed off what could have been a stampede of a meeting at the pass.
Amid accusations of the service not being available or not responding in a timely fashion, State Operations Manager Bernie White made it clear the meeting was an in-service for members of the South Central Kosciusko Emergency Medical Service.
"I'm here at the request of several people," White said. "Just so everyone is on the same page. It's not unusual that I'm here."
In-service meetings are regularly held as part of state requirements for certification.
Rules and regulations books were distributed to members.
White, regional manager, oversees 138 emergency medical services in 18 counties.
A soft-spoken, slow-speaking man, White explained that some of the rules required by the state EMS commission are specific, some are vague.
"Everyone is on a level playing field," he said. "There are things we expect of you and there are things we demand of you."
For example, run reports are kept for seven years.
A basic ambulance is required to have certain pieces of equipment and a certain amount of supplies.
White detailed a host of other criteria for the ambulance service to be in operation.
White conducts ambulance inspections and audits. He makes sure each service has the correct equipment in the right amounts and that it is maintained properly.
All EMS apply to the state commission every two years.
South Central's application indicates it will provide service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An emergency medical technician and a driver are expected to respond - unless the ambulance is out of service.
Not having an EMT available can take the ambulance out of service as surely as an engine problem.
"You're not in the ambulance business," White said. "You're in the people business - taking care of neighbors."
The SCKEMS was criticized lately because it has reportedly missed runs. Either no one called central dispatch and placed the ambulance out of service or someone did phone in the out-of-service status and central dispatch did not take note.
County EMS Coordinator Carla Gebert said the ambulance was marked in-service.
Although seven EMTs have signed up with South Central, few are available during the day.
"South Central says it is a 24-7," White said. "If the tones go off and no one shows up, its a violation.
"You can run two hours a day and on weekends if you want to. You will do what you say you'll do. There are other services to cover the area."
Tony Pagan, the state's EMS director of public safety, reviewed training requirements for EMTs, saying a fifth level would soon be added.
He described the intermediate-level EMT as being able to do the same things as a paramedic.
Currently, the state certifies first responders, basic EMTs, advanced EMTs and paramedics.
The intermediate EMT would fit between advanced EMT and paramedic.
Certified basic EMTs could jump to intermediate EMTs without a stop at advanced, Pagano said. Everyone begins at the basic level.
Pagano recognized the commitment in hours and dollars given by each member.
In addition to classroom study, basic EMTs must also serve 200 hours on EMS runs, often a six-month process.
White saw much of the service's problem as stemming from internal communications.
He advised the group get a department chaplain.
"It doesn't have to be an ordained minister," he said. "But maybe you need a mediator."
The words "back-stabber" and "liar" flew through the air several times without being directed at a specific person.
Gebert was specific, however. '"Your operational and internal issues are huge," she said. "They are separating your system, your constituents and not helping your patients."
White said the state couldn't help them with their feelings about one another. He said they couldn't lose anymore people, though.
And Gebert said SCKEMS's problems were being faced by the other emergency services in the county, too, and were all solvable.
The service was advised that the $300 charge for emergency runs and $200 charge for non-emergency runs was a bit low. Other services charge $450 for non-emergency runs and more for emergency runs. [[In-content Ad]]