Premier Medical Transport, Brea CA

[Medic496]

Today at 6 am Premier Medical Transport has launch an OCEMS approved IFT-ALS Paramedic program. Premier is the 4th company that has qualified to OCEMS policy and become licensed as an IFT-ALS provider. Unfortunately, ELITE couldn't keep up the volume and has since ceased IFT-ALS operations. Lynch EMS and Liberty Ambulance are providing IFT-ALS Paramedic service.

For those who don't understand the IFT-ALS program, let me explain. Duel medic, 100% standing orders, no restrictions on treatment or decision making ability on destination. Does not need to upgrade to 911. Once an IFT-ALS unit has been sent to a facility, the patient is theirs. It's all about dispatch and the decision making process on sending the most appropriate resource (i.e., IFT-BLS, IFT-ALS, RN CCT, or refer to 911). It's all about the data, and with 100% of ePCR's entered into OCMEDS and are completed with 100% validity within 20 minutes of passing off pt. care, the facilities are happy with the "private paramedics". IFT-ALS is here to stay because it is a proven higher level of care than 911. It's in the data.

Intent of IFT-ALS program is to respond to stable and potentially unstable patients who are under the auspices of care and deliver them to the destination requested, keeping the patient within the continuity of their network of care and/or within their health system. Hopefully, leading to a better outcome.

Good Luck Paramedics and to the team at Premier Medical Transport!


Patrick Powers, MICP, IFT-ALS Accredited
Director of EMS Development
"Competence and Professionalism"

 

[gonefishing]

Fire has to be losing it LOL

 

[johnrsemt]

So they do what ALS providers do at any ALS IFT service anywhere else in the country?

 

[gonefishing]

So they do what ALS providers do at any ALS IFT service anywhere else in the country?

Actually in LA county you can't run an als call out of a snf you have to call fire. Nor can la county als crews use pumps or vents also must make base contact. So this is big news for them.

 

[Angel]

Wait...I am so confused. Is this some reach around fires exclusive operating contract?

 

[gonefishing]

Wait...I am so confused. Is this some reach around fires exclusive operating contract?

OCFA had complete say and control of everything now its ocems and the state so the hold fire had on everything is coming down also the Care ambulance controversy. Fire was not pleased when the trial program went into effect and has been showing its success. Fire not running ems means loss of fire jobs which equals loss in union dues. IAFF will come out and say something soon like they did in ohio.lol

 

[Angel]

I think thats great BUT, these companies are likely not able to compete with the salary and benefits fire offers so its kind of a toss up. sounds interesting though

 

[gonefishing]

I think thats great BUT, these companies are likely not able to compete with the salary and benefits fire offers so its kind of a toss up. sounds interesting though

Well oc has been talking going private ems. Alot of areas have. Fire is becoming more extinct. Doing ems is job security and a justification for large budgets.

 

[Angel]

I absolutely agree. And think patient care suffers because those guys don't want to run medicals

 

[gonefishing]

I absolutely agree. And think patient care suffers because those guys don't want to run medicals

EXACTLY! I've witnessed it with LAFD with my own family members. A 12 minute response time when the station is literally a block away. Horrible attitudes could care less about doing the job. Scrutinized me and my wife for her grandmother being a dnr...... shes 90 years old! Her choice what she wants. I had a fireman say "I don't get why shes a dnr when she doesn't have any long term terminal illness" with a huge attitude. Me being scrutinized for working private...... "oh you work for a private" yea.... what does that have to do with anything???? I still need to write a complaint doubt it will go anywhere.

Somebody had syncope at my wedding in OC fire was called by the event place, the carebears were horrible and same for fire both horrible attitudes. Mind you the place was packed with emts, medics, rns, PA's, NP's both family and family friends and we all witnessed the great attitude and piss poor care of CARE and OC Fire. Rant over.lol

 

[Angel]

Ive seen many a time, fire just sit in the jump seat and ask the patient questions. never doing a full assessment and never just have a conversation with their patient. After all, the game is on and they couldve drove themselves.

 

[CodeBru1984]

Ive seen many a time, fire just sit in the jump seat and ask the patient questions. never doing a full assessment and never just have a conversation with their patient. After all, the game is on and they couldve drove themselves.

I noticed that to an extend when I worked in a busy SoCal system. In my current system it's different though. Fire (BLS) seems to genuinely want to assist and always asks if there's anything they can help with prior to clearing scene.

 

[Jim37F]

For those who don't understand the IFT-ALS program, let me explain. Duel medic, 100% standing orders, no restrictions on treatment or decision making ability on destination. Does not need to upgrade to 911. Once an IFT-ALS unit has been sent to a facility, the patient is theirs. It's all about dispatch and the decision making process on sending the most appropriate resource (i.e., IFT-BLS, IFT-ALS, RN CCT, or refer to 911).

So possibly (probably) a stupid question here...say a SNF calls for a private ALS-IFT, are there any restrictions on code 3 response? Like fire doesn't say "oh they want a code 3 response they have to call 911 for us instead" type thing?

(Sorry I'm a little buzzed at my families house in Fullerton and I just saw a Lynch ALS unit drive by and it got me wondering how working as a medic in OC is different than LACo)

 

[Mufasa556]

I believe if the call meets certain requirements it must be referred to the 911 system, unless it is requested by an MD.

http://healthdisasteroc.org/ems/so_als

Sorry, I wasn't able to link the specific file. It's under Interfacility Transport standing orders IFT-SO-3.

 

[CentralCalEMT]

So basically IFT medics in OC only respond to certain situations and still are not to respond to any potentially serious condition with an acute onset. I understand this system is still an improvement over the previous system with NO private paramedics, but on the surface, it seems strange. Once again, in SoCal (LA/OC) private paramedics are treated like second class paramedics and limited in what they can do despite receiving the same training as the fire paragods.

 

[gonefishing]

So basically IFT medics in OC only respond to certain situations and still are not to respond to any potentially serious condition with an acute onset. I understand this system is still an improvement over the previous system with NO private paramedics, but on the surface, it seems strange. Once again, in SoCal (LA/OC) private paramedics are treated like second class paramedics and limited in what they can do despite receiving the same training as the fire paragods.

Well from what ive heard your allowed to respond to als level calls out of snfs and allowed to use an iv pump vs. LACo your not allowed to do either only fire can respond to als calls out of snfs.

 

[triemal04]

OCFA had complete say and control of everything now its ocems and the state so the hold fire had on everything is coming down also the Care ambulance controversy. Fire was not pleased when the trial program went into effect and has been showing its success. Fire not running ems means loss of fire jobs which equals loss in union dues. IAFF will come out and say something soon like they did in ohio.lol

Actually, both the local and the department itself would be concerned about the potential loss of jobs because a) no department ever likes to have positions cut for many, many reasons, some valid, some not, and b) the local's job is to help protect their members; that's why they exist. It's not going out on a limb to say that union dues play no part in this, at either the local level, or the international level (where they actually only collect a very small amount of one's monthly dues).

 

[Woodtownemt]

Just saw this and made me face palm. Orange County looks more promising I hope.

 

[gonefishing]

Just saw this and made me face palm. Orange County looks more promising I hope.

Sierra Madre is a small independent town next to Pasadena. All Volunteer fire department. The medics are single role paramedics. Mutual aid from Arcadia Fire etc. I think they also have Schaefer as a back up for transports.

 

[Jim37F]

Sierra Madre is a small independent town next to Pasadena. All Volunteer fire department. The medics are single role paramedics. Mutual aid from Arcadia Fire etc. I think they also have Schaefer as a back up for transports.

SMFD...volunteer firefighters and paid part time paramedics (I think they only work 1 shift a week).They're part of the same Verdugo Fire Communications regional dispatch that my department uses. They have one engine, one paramedic rescue ambulance...and when that's down their reserve is a squad so Schaefer is automatically dispatched alongside S41...however the department averages maybe 1 or 2 calls a day...so in the off chance a second call comes in while S/RA41 is already committed Verdugo will simply send an Arcadia RA and no Schaefer (if neither of Arcadia's RAs are available I'd imagine they'd either send a Pasadena RA or Monrovia's Squad and Schaefer whichever happens to be closer)