How do you know a call acuity until you get there?
Priority medical dispatching. In a large metro, the majority of 911EMS calls triage out as low acuity.
Isn't it a big joke on this forum how inaccurate such trusting is?
Exactly.True ALS level calls are almost always dispatched correctly and if they're not, BLS can stabilize a patient and meet ALS enroute.
So, to clarify, is the proposal BLS privates and ALS fire ambulances?
That isn't stated anywhere, but if both are the same level, why would the acuity of the call make a difference?
That makes no sense. If anything FEMS should run the calls that are lower priority. Less chance of them screwing them upSeems pretty clear that FEMS will run ALS: https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...562498-6ba5-11e5-b31c-d80d62b53e28_story.html
"A basic-life-support ride, which the private company will handle under the new plan, costs $428; advanced life support, which the District’s EMS will continue to manage, can cost either $508 or $735, based on the level of care given. "
The key component in the turfing of patients to privates in King County is BLS patients being evaluated by a BLS engine first. DC's chief came from Seattle so it would make sense he's trying to emulate that system but do they have the staffing and political guts to do so?This is how all of King County Washington runs calls. BLS is turfed to the privates and ALS is run by County Medic One in the or the various fire agency Medics, like Seattle or Bellevue fire.
The key component in the turfing of patients to privates in King County is BLS patients being evaluated by a BLS engine first. DC's chief came from Seattle so it would make sense he's trying to emulate that system but do they have the staffing and political guts to do so?
How can a BLS engine turf to a BLS ambulance if they also have no idea what they are looking at?The key component in the turfing of patients to privates in King County is BLS patients being evaluated by a BLS engine first. DC's chief came from Seattle so it would make sense he's trying to emulate that system but do they have the staffing and political guts to do so?