So what will Las Vegas do?

[Fish]

15 Ambulance with AMR Medics compared to 15 Ambulances with LVFD Medics, which is cheaper? I think the answer is clear.

AMR does not pay as high as LVFD, they do not offer the same Pension or Benefits either. So to the Tax payer, it will be a cheaper option.

I have never heard any clinical concerns with AMR, Medicwest, or LVFD....... And I assume that they all receive the same type of Cont. Education in some sort or another.

As much as pay and equipment was a factor with me when it concerned AMR, they do have a testing process to get hired(written test, Mega Code, Sim, Interview). Which a lot of Privates cannot say for themselves

 

[DrParasite]

hmm, here is a revolutionary idea..... all LVFD fire trucks are staffed and equipped to the BLS level only. they only go on life threatening medical emergencies (if the first due ambulance is not in house). Saves on ALS training, saves on purchasing and maintaining ALS equipment.

kick every private ambulance out of las vegas's 911 system.

every LVFD fire house gets an LVFD single role paramedic ambulance (preferably 3rd service, but I will settle for FD based). Based on call volumes, some might even get two. Every call is answered by a LV ambulance. if the first due ambulance is not available, the engine goes. If the call of not life threatening, and the engine is unavailable, an ambulance is sent from further away. if this happens repeatedly, more ambulances are added.

all billing revenue goes back to the city. all control is maintained by the city. all hiring is controlled by the city. If the city doesn't like response times, they can add more ambulances.

Remember, Las Vegas is 138.5 square miles, and has a population of 583,756. It's not the 4.2 mile strip of Las Vegas Boulevard South (all the casinos that you see on TV), which does actually not actually fall within the city limits.

EMS doesn't, I repeat, doesn't make money. Unless you SSM and run your crews into the ground, pay them crap until they move onto a better job, or cut every corner you can. At least with the EMS being tax funded, you can offset all that (just like FD and PD do).

 

[RocketMedic]

That would make things even worse. I counter with a PUM staffed by AMR with BLS fire backup.

 

[rescue1]

Why would single role ambulances be worse (or better) than AMR?

 

[Handsome Robb]

That would make things even worse. I counter with a PUM staffed by AMR with BLS fire backup.

Sounds familiar...except our FDs are ILS with 4 ALS stations in the BFE areas. And I don't work for AMR