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Show The Salt Lake Tribune OPINION AA3 Sunday, November10, 2002 Pros, Consof a County-Controlled AmbulanceService Public will be better served by firefighters This proposal will not raise taxes. Startup costs will be minimal, as paramedic serviceis already being provided. The only initial costs will be the price difference between seven Chev rolet Suburbans to that of seven le: ambu: lances. Fire departments in Midvale, Sandy South Jordan, and West Jordan already provide BY JAYZIOLKOWSKI spective cities, County Fire currently provides ambulance services in Draper and Riverton. All ambulanceservices located within the Salt Lake Valley cover their expenses and generate reve- nueto offset costs. their skills to administer every available treat mentpossible. Based ontraining levels, number ofyears ex perienceandasignificantly lower turnoverrate, a fire department-sponsored ambulance service will be a better service. Seventy-five percent of last year’s fire department to- Once complete, crews then waited for Gold Cross Ambulance. Twenty-five minutes after the arrival of rescue personnel, Imagine howthe family feltas they watched their loved one die right before their eyes in a parking lot. Since that time there have been more than 30 such documented cases of alarminglylate arriv: als by Gold Cross. Emergency public safety is a core responsibility and one BY MIKE MOFEIT this service. Through licenses held by the re- Last April, Salt Lake County Fire Department responded to the rescue of a 64-year-old male patient who had recently undergone transplant surgery. With family and other citizens watch. ing, fire department rescue personnelused all of Gold Cross finally arrived. Gold Cross system works well, doesn’t need fixing Based on training levels, - local hospitals with fire para: experience anda significantly lower ific turnoverrate, a fire department-sponsored ment’s emergency ambulance license application to the State of Utah. During the early 1980s, the fire department gave upits free ambulance transport service in order to increase the numberoffirefighters who were medically trained to the level of paramedic a service that was growing in popularity and demand. Today, as a result, every firefighter in the departmentis a highly trained paramedic or emergency medical technician (EMT). Emergency ambulance service provided by the fire department improves efficiency by sending less emergency apparatus to the scene. Currently, three units respond to a medical incident. Under this new proposal, only two units will be needed. Also, there is no concurrentdispatch between thefire jurisdictions and Gold Cross. With this plan, a valleywide,fireemergency ambulance system forall ofSalt Lake County (south of 2100 South) will be coordinated from onedispatch center. The result will be the simultaneous arrival of medical care with the ambulance. This proposal also guarantees con: tinuity of patient care. From the emergency sceneto the hospital, fire paramedics will care for the patient. dents currently enjoy; and third, the government shouldn't be in the businessof putting successful private Leaders in both political medic personnel on board the parties, members of he me- ty’s plan will place a para sociation and businessleaders ambulance. Salt Lake Coun- dia, the Utah Taxpayer’s As medic ambulance within two across the state oppose the miles of almost every address on the valley floor, thus increasing thelevel of care, and county’s rush to judgment in of the highest priorities for gmbulance service will be decreasing ambulance reSalt Lake County. That is why sponse times. Firefighter. the County Council voted 90 a better service. in support of the fire depart- provide the efficiencies and redundancies of service that are necessary andthat county resi: percent were transported to companies out of business. number ofyears eg tal call volume was for medical emergencies. Of those persons needing medical attention, 71 There are three good reasons for Salt Lake Countytaxpayers to be concerned. about Mayor Nancy Workman's current plan to socialize ambulanceservice. First, taxpayerswill haveto foot the bill when the fire department fails to meet its budget; second, the county will never be ableto afford and paramedics can then ensure that there is no delay in the transportation oftheir patients. Fire stations operate 24 hours a day, and are placed in strategic locations, based on best possible service delivery to each community. Gold Cross’ ambulance placement, and the subsequent number available depending on the timeof day, is based on an algorithm indicating what is best for business anda potentialfor profit. Mostofthecriticism surrounding this issue revolves around economics, not public safety. The proposed changeswill not put Gold Cross out of business. County Fire is only seeking the If the council passes the mayor's proposal, the fire department will use one-fourth as many EMTs and ambulances to provide emergency services to countyresidents. That's significant decrease in service, « 7 money when itran the se ambulance service in the 1970s. They will lose The mayor's proposal is bad for business and bad for the county's economy Gold Cross Ambulance Serviceis 34 years old. We employ money now. this case. Their common admonition to Mayor Workman and Councilman ers and supporting administrative staff. We have 56 am. bulances and a very good track record. We have a 22-year historyof pro- MichaelJensen is to only move forwardon this viding the highest qualityof service to Salt Lake proposal with great care and caution County residents at nocost to taxpayers.In fact, we pay nearly $500,000 in income, property and sales taxes, and wepaythe Salt Lake County Fire Department almost $900,000 annually for the use oftheir paramedics. The county pian takes some of this impact people's lives are atstake, andsois the health and wealth of the public coffers. Thereis a clear consensus: The system isn’t broken and doesn’t need to be fixed. The County Council is currently reviewing the mayor’s proposal and we've been promised a thorough review. We are confident an honest analysis will bear out the followingfacts: The mayor’s proposal will cost taxpayers money. Councilman Jensen and Mayor Work: man seem confident they can generate a profit, but they have yet to deliver a comprehensive budget that shows anythingbut a net loss. Not: withstanding their good intentions, Salt Lake threaten the viability of Gold Cross andits 56ambulance fleet, nor its core mission of ambu- Governmentagencies havenoincentive to work toward break-evenorprofitability. Last year, government-run emergency medi: cal service agencies in Utah lost more than $18 million. Former Salt Lake County Public Works Director Donald Spencer said ofa county-run am- bulance system, “It costs us $2 for every $1 we collect.” The mayor's planis a health risk to county residents. Thefire departmentis quick to make into account. It doesn’t, however, address the employees we will undoubtedly havetolay off, the loss in tax revenue the county andthestate will definitely incur, or the impact this will have on our vendors and suppliers. This proposal has much moreserious implications than Mayor Workman and Councilman Jensen would have you believe. The County Council would bewell advised to remember this in their analysis if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It's unlikely that a government agency can cut costs and im: prove service, particularly when the current systemis working well. I urge youto call your council representative and the mayor. Tell them you are concerned about the safety of your family, and that you don’t wantto pay highertaxes. Tell themthere's nogoodreason tofix a systemthat isn’t broken. Mike Moffit is senior vice president of Gold Cross Ambulance Service. #@*@*H!! Havea problem with today’s content? Call our new Reader Advocate Connie Coyne 257-8782 Toph Se eres PRESENT THIS COUPONCO Peaies eat eee OFF PER GALL \ OF GAS! Rtas aieay SEE STORE FOR DETAILS (Until Spring 2003 + OAC) Independent Livit GOOD AT ALL HOLIDAY OIL AND HOLIDAY CHEVRON LOCATIONS L _ — — NOTGOODWITH ANY OTHER OFFER. EXPIRES11/23/02 tim AMERICAN FAMILY LINSURANCE UTC maT homeowner's claims service tee Ur eC amare aa tired World War II M emorabilia Display Saturday November 16, 2002 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Cordia Senior Residence” Under one roof. When you're under the American Family roof, taking care of a claimis one of the easiest chores around the house. In fact, all it takes is a call to your American Family agent, and inno time at all your homeowners claim is taken care of. For the American Family agent nearest you, see the White or Yellow Pages, or visit our Web site at amfam.com, All Your Protection Under One Roof tet Amt ey Ra ang sts ne= Rafer 34) wruannm 2 380 of thestate's finest EMTs, para medics, emergency dispatch Countylost money whenit ran the ambulance Capt. Jay Ziolkowski is public information of ficerfor the Salt Lake County Fire Department. times as many emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in the sameservice area. tentially irresponsible. service in the 1970s. They will lose money now. service. in the county’s plan, however. The county proposes to provide ambulance serviceusing exist. ing firefighters and seven ambulances. Gold Cross currently uses 25 ambulances and three . not the non- lance transport between care facilities. It comes downtothis: Salt Lake County’s plan will not increase taxes (as taxpayersalready bear the cost of emergency services) andit will provide better access to a higher-quality ambulance documentany real service issues in the current system. In fact, there are no documented service complaints on file. There is a huge service hole Salt Lake County lost emergency calls. The county’s plan does not emergency 911 ambulance calls sweeping statements about how much better they can service the residents of Salt Lake County than Gold Cross, but they have failed to In honor of the men and women whoserved during World War II, the World War Il Era Preservation society will be holding an exhibit of period pieces at Cordia Senior Residence. Also on display will be items from soldiers who served in the war. Theseartifacts will include uniforms, manuals, field gear as well as photos andpersonal items. As you wander though the exhibition, you a will see items from the homefront including ration stamps, propaganda posters, andrelated items. Witness the remnants of incredible heroism that will help you recreate a vivid part of our history. Comeandsee the stories of Utah residents Lee Davis and Keith Wooley among many others. For reservationsorto learn moreabout Cordia Senior Residence pleasecall (801) 281-3477 Life on Your Own Terms 4522 South 1300 East + Salt Lake City, Utah 84117 www.cordiaseniorliving.com |