Ambulance delays in Decatur (Alabama)

[MariaCatEMT]

Hospital-to-hospital trip policy draws scrutiny

By Chris Paschenko
DAILY Staff Writer
chris@decaturdaily.com · 340-2442

A former paramedic, whose critically ill mother waited 35 minutes for an ambulance, said private ambulance companies have conflicting interests when asked to weigh finances against patient care.

Tim Hutcherson said his mother suffered from respiratory arrest Feb. 26, and he rushed her to Decatur's Parkway Medical Center about 9 p.m.

Parkway's medical staff stabilized Mildred Hutcherson, 80, of Priceville, he said, and requested an ambulance after midnight to take her to Huntsville Hospital for advanced cardiac care.


Read more here...

 

[MedicPrincess]

From reading the article, it sounds about like standard practice. This guys mom was a transfer. In the system I work for at least, a hosptial to hospital transfer does not take priority over having a truck available for 911 response.

Yesterday, we were down 4 trucks. That left 5 to cover the county. Transfers were held. STAT transfers had to be held until we had trucks available. In one case the hospital didn't feel as though the patient could wait, so they called AirHeart. That person got a helicopter ride. If the helo wouldn't have been available, the transfer would have waited.

Its not as if these are 911 calls, without the benefit of advanced care. They are in a HOSPITAL. There are DR available, nurses right there. If they code before the transfer gets there, they have qualified people right there to handle it.

A transfer sometimes waits. This guy is a former Medic. He knows that.

 

[Wingnut]

Princess, my thoughts exactly.

 

[TTLWHKR]

Good PR for Greg's Ambulance Service...

I googled " Greg's Ambulance Service ", and only came back with a bunch of press stories.

I can see it now.. "Al's Ambulance Service"... That's it! I'm moving to alabama!


Oh yeah...

And if the hospital wants rapid, interfacility transports, they should get their own critical care MICU and do their own. Don't blame the locals for not picking up on their own cheap-*** slack!

And if she was that bad, why the hell didn't they fly her?