Comments on: State of Ada Ambulance Service

By: John

John — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 18:52:44 +0000

Regarding Skeptics comment – $100 per hour covers 2 paramedics, not 4. It makes it easier to come up with a positive number when you don’t cut the revenue in half. Incremental cost for the ambulance (mileage) is also covered by the FS.
Yes, you missed something, but good job speaking before you had the facts.

By: fire

fire — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 00:01:44 +0000

I would be interested to see how receptive the Ada county Paramedics would be to all the Fire departments estblishing thier own Paramedic provider status and abulance service. While it would be a huge benefit to the public by reducing response times etc. I think the Ada County Paramedics would fight to hold on to thier little monopoly.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 20:58:46 +0000

To respond to the above comment about the “Free rent” from the fire stations… what a joke! You expect another government entity to pay rent when they already have extra room and a fully funded taxpayer budget with less than a fire a day / year and ACP has to scrounge for $ on fee for servce revenues. And… when they haven’t had extra room ACP split the remodel costs with the respective Fire Dept (Boise Fire Station #3). As for the old fire station in the northend that now houses M57, Boise Fire literally begged ACP to staff that station so they (BFD) could move into their JR Simplot requested Boise station #2. In fact they couldn’t move into that station unless the 17th and Ridenbaugh location was staffed 24 / 7. ACP did them the favor, not the other way around. The ONLY reason ACP is there is because Boise Fire didn’t want to have to battle with the North End Neighbors Assoc. Again, I beg you, blog on your own dime or take the time to come and get the facts from the agency you are accusing of mismanagement. I have no doubt the Director or Deputy Directors would be happy to set the record straight if you really wanted the facts or cared to know.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:56:09 +0000

Wow. So much to say from people that have no idea how the system actually works or what a paramedic truly is and does (exception is Sharon Ullman who has done many ride alongs with ACP in the past and been a big supporter – THANKS). You’re all up in arms about ACP making money on cotnracts that are from the forest service and staff leaving town. I think it’s funny really.

The fine citizens of Ada County showed their support for EMS and said no to a tax bond that would have allowed ACP to live off of your tax laurels yearly, just like the fire dept does and not have to make a conformity to public sector practices. Less than 1% of the public voted and turned that propopsal down. So… what do you expect? Rates go up, the service starts looking for ways to fund itself because growth is surpassing revenue. ACP has traditionally not competed with the private sector, but the public has spoken leaving not many other funding options available; like transfers.

Every other large (with little tax payer funding) EMS sevrice in the nation does these transfers and obtains contracts in order to make the necessary revenue to support the 911 ambulance service. The membership program serves as a stop gap measure to protect citizens from an exorbitant bill due to high rates. Any one that thinks the membership program ($60) is a bad deal has never been transported by the ambulance service. $500 co-pays (after insurance) are not uncommon.

Which is the better deal (do the quick math and get back to me)? This is a voluntary program that citizens can use to show their support for the ambulance / paramedic service in Ada County. If you don’t like it or the idea, don’t participate but blog on your own dime; it’s a good thing for alot of people. Oh, remember this…. whens the last time you expected to have an emergency or a heart attack? No one ever does and it happened to almost 19,000 people last year in Ada County. Those odds come out to about 1:13. When that happens to you, a loved one, or a friend of your, who do you want to come and take care of them and how long do you want it to take? Then ask yourself how much are you willing to pay for that service.

By: JDanniels

JDanniels — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 19:48:18 +0000

I agree with Voter1 about the appearance that Guardian is definitely backing special interests or union movements. The way this, the second, article is written CLEARLY indicates one-sided argument. It is biased and does not present clear facts and only opinions. I have no live for the county or county public safety. But, it appears the Guardian has lost its objectivity and succumbed to pressures from the special interests.

By: j

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 18:24:10 +0000

Like all other problems in government, this is a leadership problem folks.

I bet they anounce a multi-million dollar plan to study the problem. Then they’ll hire a bunch of former govenment types to come in and kick around for a while until the problem is old news again.

By: skeptic

skeptic — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 12:42:41 +0000

Lets see; $15.12 per hour x 4 paramedics x 1.5 (time and a half)= 90.72 per hour. Now add benefits which for the County is probably 30%+ and you get a total of $117.93 per hour! Add some incremental cost for the use of the ambulance and it’s hard to make the math come out with a positive revenue figure when you only get $100.00 per hour from the Forest Service. Maybe I’ve missed something?

EDITOR NOTE–That appears to be correct considering someone would have to fill in the schedule in Ada County most likely on overtime.

By: CYCLOPS

CYCLOPS — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 23:53:12 +0000

Talk about Dejavu! Voter1’s last post was first made 25-30 years ago when the ACEMS was born. The EXACT same arguements were made then with the substitution of the terms “Paramedics and EMT’s”. All we are saying as citizens is quit wasting our money! The best advice the “commishes” can get right now is they better get the “damage control ” going in high gear.

If this issue gets picked up by the “mainstreamers”, that little hiccup you guys had with the closed meeting problem is going to seem like a “nice walk through Julia Davis Park on a warm fall afternoon”. We don’t really care when all these things happened. It is on your watch now, and you will pay the price!

By: Voter1

Voter1 — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 23:01:43 +0000

It would be interesting to see how much funding is wasted on the local fire departments paramedic programs. How many calls do they respond to, how many patient contacts do their paramedics get annually, how many skills and interventions do they do?? And, most importantly, do they actually augment the current EMS system?? I’m not disputing the fire departments paramedics certification, rather it’s their usage I’m concerned with…hence the “pretend” comment.

The County is already covered by paramedics, boisean, and they respond to thousands of calls every year – in every square inch of the County. What happens if the Fire Dept ran the ambulance service and a call originated outside their protection district??? Would they respond – they don’t on fires, there’s proof of that.

What this place needs is a consolidated Public Safety Agency with Fire, Police and EMS operated under one arm to make the emergency services more efficient for the tax payer. That would end alot of needless arguments.

By: boisean

boisean — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 22:14:29 +0000

It is clear that voter1 is a paramedic or works for acems in some way. Meridan, Kuna and Boise Fire Departments are slowly adding paramedics to there engine companies, and someday have the whole county covered. They are not “pretend paramedics”. They are very qualified and some are even former ACEMS medics. It is a threat to ada county ems. Why doesn’t anyone talk about the cities giving ACEMS free rent in their fire stations, or the old fire station in the Northend being used by the county for free.