JimSpoor
12-19-2003, 11:14
Currently my squad is suffering through some growing pains and I was wondering if anyone else has experienced the same?
We are a 100% volunteer BLS ambulance that is looking at upgrading to ALS. Our closest ALS mutual aid is usually at least 20 to 30 minutes away, if it is available at all. Many times we scoop and run to the small, rural, local hospital because we can get there before ALS can get to us. The squad has recognized for years that this is not a good solution. We have finally bitten the bullet and decided to hire paramedics to provide the squad with ALS capabilities. The plan is to have a chief paramedic to oversee the ALS operations as well as cover shifts. We would then have two full time and 10-15 per diem paramedics to cover the shifts. That would give us one paramedic with an ALS fly car for immediate response on each shift. The rest of the system would remain the same. Day calls would be an all page for the crew to pick up the ambulance and respond to the call. Nights and Weekends the duty crew (vol. BLS) would respond along with the ALS fly car.
To fund this we have gone to the town and requested the formation of a tax district to fund the ALS operations, (not the squad as a whole.) After several months of meetings, discussions, community meetings, etc. the vote is set for 12/22. It is anybody's guess whether it will pass or not. I can't believe that anyone would vote against this when it will only cost the average homeowner a $20-$30 increase in their annual property taxes.
Sorry for being long winded but I needed to paint the picture. The point is we squad members are now facing two new problems. We are in disagreement with a sizable chunk of the local population and in addtion some are worried about us vs. them with the paid ALS guys. Anybody else work or volunteer in a combined aency? Who else has struggled through the creation of a tax district? Thoughts or comments?
We are a 100% volunteer BLS ambulance that is looking at upgrading to ALS. Our closest ALS mutual aid is usually at least 20 to 30 minutes away, if it is available at all. Many times we scoop and run to the small, rural, local hospital because we can get there before ALS can get to us. The squad has recognized for years that this is not a good solution. We have finally bitten the bullet and decided to hire paramedics to provide the squad with ALS capabilities. The plan is to have a chief paramedic to oversee the ALS operations as well as cover shifts. We would then have two full time and 10-15 per diem paramedics to cover the shifts. That would give us one paramedic with an ALS fly car for immediate response on each shift. The rest of the system would remain the same. Day calls would be an all page for the crew to pick up the ambulance and respond to the call. Nights and Weekends the duty crew (vol. BLS) would respond along with the ALS fly car.
To fund this we have gone to the town and requested the formation of a tax district to fund the ALS operations, (not the squad as a whole.) After several months of meetings, discussions, community meetings, etc. the vote is set for 12/22. It is anybody's guess whether it will pass or not. I can't believe that anyone would vote against this when it will only cost the average homeowner a $20-$30 increase in their annual property taxes.
Sorry for being long winded but I needed to paint the picture. The point is we squad members are now facing two new problems. We are in disagreement with a sizable chunk of the local population and in addtion some are worried about us vs. them with the paid ALS guys. Anybody else work or volunteer in a combined aency? Who else has struggled through the creation of a tax district? Thoughts or comments?