toastedsound

Just to clarify, MLSS actually had 6 units involved (with 3 others covering the city), as well as SORT rehab operations in progress. Every agency on scene showed a great amount of teamwork and professionalism. Well done by all.

As long as these don't involve Bohlmann with iron-ons again... That was painful to watch...

I believe the old Alamo CON's are still owned by Health Quest. Transcare already had the necessary certificates to operate and merely bought the right to Alamo's contracted areas, equipment, and personnel. Also, I do believe "Alamo EMS" technically still does one call a month, a discharge out of Vassar, to keep the CON valid thru Health Quest.

the biggest thing is that the king will do a better job of keeping vomit, blood, etc out of the trachea than will an OPA

I don't mean to be "that guy" but if the King Airway protected the lungs from vomit, blood, etc., we would never need to intubate. Fact of the matter is, it really doesn't protect the airway from those things, just merely allows for an increased tidal volume and more direct source of ventilation. The risk of aspirating foreign objects, unfortunately, is always present without a properly placed ET tube. The benefit to the King Airway over the Combitube is basically this: one less tube on the device means one step closer to being idiot proof. (NOT in a derogatory sense) The one downside, which I think answers the original question, is the different sizes. My agency carries 3 sizes, based on patient height. The provider who may have misplaced the device may have been using the wrong size.

How about all the ER expansions lately that never consult with EMS? Kingston's looks great, but like Vassar's, you have walk-ins crosing were ambulances are moving thru, and the transport rigs are trying to move people out. St. Francisis? C'mon folks, before you build, ask those who use it what we would like to see, suggestions. Architiects are generally not EMS providers, and often have no hospital experience. Vassar's nice computers look great. They have a nice CiC, except ... the charge nurses' backs is towards the door EMS door, and it is at ground level. Raising it 6 inches would give them the ability to oversee what we are doing and have better command and control. AND, I didn't mention those $%^&**^$@# loading docks from the daze of the Caddys!

Ever been to Good Sam? I could only imagine what an ED would like like if you built it, Ed.

Back to the original question, i think the computers have good and bad points. Believe it or not, I much prefer the way St. Luke's triages on scrap paper, then documents in the computers. I feel like this way the patient care aspect is not gone from the process. It can be frustrating, especially when brining in a critical patient and you have to give a report 3 times because you didn't answer the questions the computer was prompting for in the right order... It seems to bog down the process. On the other side of the coin, I'm sure it is much more streamlined for the ED staff, I dig the virtual bed boards.

TransCare has never gone to the city of Poughkeepsie. They have driven through plenty of times to go to the hospital. They had a patient exscape once on route 9 in the city but never responded to a alarm in the city. please post facts.....

Is this a joke?

I really have no opinion either way, on who has the City of Pok contract. However, I do know that, the City chose $$ over it all.

The City will get $$ for each minute ML is over it's contracted response time. Just keep in mind, that the response time is not the 4 to 6 minutes that TC offered...hope the City is ready for that...Remember, that most of us got into this business, whether you volunteer or are career, to HELP people, and granted it's nice to make some money now and then, and we all know that EMS is not a "get rich" business - but to make you think about this in a "simpler way" just take a moment and think about how long 9 minutes is in an emergency situation.

You realize that "4 minutes for ALS and 6 minutes for BLS" was referring to average response. That means that with enough responses under the limit, you can still have plenty way over. MLSS provides fractile percentages within the national standard. This means that no matter what, a city resident will have an ambulance at their door within 9 minutes every time, no matter what. If 10% of the time this does not happen, MLSS will pay money. It's a way of ensuring reliability and accountability. In most cases, you should be able to respond to an emergency in the city fairly quickly, common sense tells me it shouldn't be a problem. One other thing MLSS is famous for is carefully researched station locations, as well as multiple stations in one single area. When you increase the response footprint of multiple units, you can decrease response times.

I just told you the truth. Check my affiliation.

Engine, it is a hell of a response and honestly, I don't recall ever hearing that happening. If there is no unit in Wappingers, there is typically a crew on it's way for coverage from either Fishkill or Poughkeepsie. If a call drops in the area and the crew that is being relocated is found to be within response range, they are sent. Granted, just like anything else, there are exceptions. I'm sure in rare instances a unit has responded from farther. But in general terms, the response times in MLSS's coverage zones remain well under the national standard of 8:59 minutes. Wappingers also just re-signed MLSS to another 3 year contract so I imagine they are quite pleased with the service as well.

we hated it when they opened up their station in the city limits and would consistently buff 911 jobs. I remember on occasion where a City FD Captain reamed the MLSS crew out for their buffing efforts

If I recall, Jarred, I was your partner that Saturday. And we also found out that they weren't buffing anything, it was a misunderstanding because there was an injured MOS. Don't try to stir the pot just for the sake of antagonizing, that's not what this forum is for. You're better then that.

But when two calls drop back to back and the second unit responds from the Newburgh-Beacon bridge, then you can't tell me they have two units in the village.

How often can you really say this happens? I can tell you it is not very often, especially not for high-priority calls.

TAPS, with all due respect, I believe you are misinformed about a few things. First of all, the units you listed here are not always in the same areas. Second of all, the village contracts for one unit. A second unit comes on shift mid-afternoon for extra call coverage and backfill. This does not necessarily mean it is sitting in Wappingers. MLSS covers a huge territory including most of Orange County, Ulster County, and now a large piece of Dutchess County. What I do know for a fact is that they make covering primary response areas a priority. This includes areas in Dutchess such as Fishkill and Wappingers, where no other volunteer ambulances respond and there is a contract in place for such services. I figured if it was going to cause so much of a stir someone should clarify. On a separate note, everyone needs to realize that MLSS is the new guy on the block in Dutchess County but they are not stupid. They have been operating quite efficiently in Orange and Ulster for a very long time. I can assure you they do not do anything without researching first and they are not just running into Poughkeepsie without a solid plan. Also, it appears much of the staff that will be operating in the Poughkeepsie area will be experienced staff, as a matter of fact, I think you will be surprised to see a lot of familiar faces in the area. All politics aside, the important thing is that the city will continue to have excellent emergency services response.