MedicPrincess
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An infant is in respiratory distress. EMS lauches life flight based on dispatch information (common for our area) so the infant can be taken directly to the childrens hospital that is 35-40 minutes by ground. ALS fire on scene determines the infant is stable and cancels life flight. The EMS Medic says No, keep that helo coming until she can evaluate the patient.
Now this particular FD and EMS have a long history of tension, created by FD, enhanced by Rural Metros providers less than stellar performance (theres no way in hell they will transport my daughter again. I'll drive her myself).
So read here...
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061101/NEWS01/611010350/1006
Emergency officials vow cooperation
Amy Sowder
Confusion between emergency-response agencies led to a meeting Tuesday about who has the ultimate authority to say how a patient should be taken to the hospital.
The dispute arose Sunday night between the Rural/Metro and Midway fire districts over the response to a Midway-area baby.
.....
Although the meeting was closed, Sheryl Bracewell, Santa Rosa County's emergency management director, and Midway Fire District Chief Stephen Demeter confirmed that the time lapse did not cause the baby's death. Both attended the meeting.
Demeter said the incident has been blown out of proportion.
"It's definitely an attempt to make us look bad," Demeter said. "The family is satisfied with our service."
Bracewell disagreed.
"Nothing said in the meeting convinced me," Bracewell said. "LifeFlight should have landed. If we err, we want to err on the side of the patient."
.....
The confusion began when Midway Fire and Rural Metro both had a paramedic, said Karen Smith, spokeswoman for Baptist Hospital.
"Usually, the fire department's job is to stabilize the patient until ambulance arrives, and then patient care falls on their shoulders," Smith said. "Our protocol says the decision is made by the paramedic with the ground ambulance."
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061101/NEWS01/611010350/1006
Now this particular FD and EMS have a long history of tension, created by FD, enhanced by Rural Metros providers less than stellar performance (theres no way in hell they will transport my daughter again. I'll drive her myself).
So read here...
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061101/NEWS01/611010350/1006
Emergency officials vow cooperation
Amy Sowder
Confusion between emergency-response agencies led to a meeting Tuesday about who has the ultimate authority to say how a patient should be taken to the hospital.
The dispute arose Sunday night between the Rural/Metro and Midway fire districts over the response to a Midway-area baby.
.....
Although the meeting was closed, Sheryl Bracewell, Santa Rosa County's emergency management director, and Midway Fire District Chief Stephen Demeter confirmed that the time lapse did not cause the baby's death. Both attended the meeting.
Demeter said the incident has been blown out of proportion.
"It's definitely an attempt to make us look bad," Demeter said. "The family is satisfied with our service."
Bracewell disagreed.
"Nothing said in the meeting convinced me," Bracewell said. "LifeFlight should have landed. If we err, we want to err on the side of the patient."
.....
The confusion began when Midway Fire and Rural Metro both had a paramedic, said Karen Smith, spokeswoman for Baptist Hospital.
"Usually, the fire department's job is to stabilize the patient until ambulance arrives, and then patient care falls on their shoulders," Smith said. "Our protocol says the decision is made by the paramedic with the ground ambulance."
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061101/NEWS01/611010350/1006