One of the agencies I work for gives the patient the choice of what hospital they want to go to. I hate it. This is the #1 abuse of the system. For the patient who really needs it, no problem, I'll take them anywhere. But the frequent fliers that know that we will take them where they want, it's ridiculous. We are their taxi service. Had one the other day, 0630 Monday morning, his hip hurt since Friday. Meets us standing at the driveway, suitcase packed and all. Walks to the ambulance, able to climb the steps with no assistance. Wants to go downtown, 45 mile ride each way, have to pass 3 other hospitals to get there, and morning traffic is starting to pick up. Has an appointment at the VA hospital around the corner from the downtown hospital later that morning. Of course quitting time is 0645. So the little bit that Medicare will reimburse us is nowhere near the 3hrs of OT each for 2 medics, plus the gas for the ambulance which gets about 8mpg. This is a daily occurrence here. Want to cut down on system abuse and save some money, put hospital choice in the hands of the medic, closest appropriate facility. Or give us a stack of taxi vouchers.
Sorry, just one of those days, rant over.:wacko:
Sorry, just one of those days, rant over.:wacko: