Peoria Heights Fire Department
Friday, February 9, 2007
Peoria Heights Fire Department
The Journal Star published an article on the Peoria Heights Ambulance Service on February 7, 2007. It is worth reading to see what is left out.
Peoria Heights has decided to pay two EMT’s to staff their ambulance for 12 hours each day. They will continue their Basic care for the people of Peoria Heights rather than contract out to Advanced Medical Transport (AMT) for Paramedic care. AMT is the only Peoria-based Paramedic and transport service and is strongly supported by Peoria’s three hospitals and Peoria Area EMS System (PAEMSS).
Peoria Heights Village trustee Wayne Baum has argued for contracting with AMT. He stated that the difference between Basic care and Paramedic care is “tremendous”. Paramedic care (advanced life support) has been shown to save lives for people that call 911 with chest pain and shortness of breath. Mr. Baum also stated that there was conflict of interest involved with the vote in Peoria Heights because one of the trustees is a VOLUNTEER firefighter for Peoria Heights.
To invoke conflict of interest here seems quite ironic. Mr. Baum’s connections with OSF, are well known, and OSF is AMT’s biggest supporter in Peoria. Also, the Peoria Fire Department (PFD) has remained mired at Basic and nontransport for many years, while OSF’s Emergency Department Director and former Project Medical Director, Dr. George Hevesy, obtains a salary from AMT and OSF. The conflict of interest in Peoria regarding the highly lucrative ambulance business is significant and does not serve Peorians well.
In Peoria Heights, those in favor of hiring EMT’s stated that keeping service in Peoria Heights ensures two ambulances are always available in the village and that the new system would allow the ambulance service to upgrade to a higher level of service ( Intermediate or Paramedic) in the future.
The Peoria Heights Fire Department is well aware that AMT is not always available when 911 is called and that AMT will actually call the PFD to go to the scene and provide care. The PFD can only provide Basic care. Even if the PFD has a licensed Paramedic, they are not allowed to give advanced life support if AMT is not on the scene and asking for their help.
The Peoria Heights village decision was wise as they are trying to avoid the unfortunate EMS situation in Peoria.
John A. Carroll, M.D.
www.peoriasmedialmafia.com
Peoria Heights has decided to pay two EMT’s to staff their ambulance for 12 hours each day. They will continue their Basic care for the people of Peoria Heights rather than contract out to Advanced Medical Transport (AMT) for Paramedic care. AMT is the only Peoria-based Paramedic and transport service and is strongly supported by Peoria’s three hospitals and Peoria Area EMS System (PAEMSS).
Peoria Heights Village trustee Wayne Baum has argued for contracting with AMT. He stated that the difference between Basic care and Paramedic care is “tremendous”. Paramedic care (advanced life support) has been shown to save lives for people that call 911 with chest pain and shortness of breath. Mr. Baum also stated that there was conflict of interest involved with the vote in Peoria Heights because one of the trustees is a VOLUNTEER firefighter for Peoria Heights.
To invoke conflict of interest here seems quite ironic. Mr. Baum’s connections with OSF, are well known, and OSF is AMT’s biggest supporter in Peoria. Also, the Peoria Fire Department (PFD) has remained mired at Basic and nontransport for many years, while OSF’s Emergency Department Director and former Project Medical Director, Dr. George Hevesy, obtains a salary from AMT and OSF. The conflict of interest in Peoria regarding the highly lucrative ambulance business is significant and does not serve Peorians well.
In Peoria Heights, those in favor of hiring EMT’s stated that keeping service in Peoria Heights ensures two ambulances are always available in the village and that the new system would allow the ambulance service to upgrade to a higher level of service ( Intermediate or Paramedic) in the future.
The Peoria Heights Fire Department is well aware that AMT is not always available when 911 is called and that AMT will actually call the PFD to go to the scene and provide care. The PFD can only provide Basic care. Even if the PFD has a licensed Paramedic, they are not allowed to give advanced life support if AMT is not on the scene and asking for their help.
The Peoria Heights village decision was wise as they are trying to avoid the unfortunate EMS situation in Peoria.
John A. Carroll, M.D.
www.peoriasmedialmafia.com
2 comments:
Did you know now that AMT is refusing to do any type of service in Peoria Heights,intercepts or mutual aid, except of course for their money making transfers.
Months after the above comment was submitted, I spoke with an individual who is very aware of the situation in Peoria Heights. He confirmed the veracity of the comment above but did say that AMT was helping more now, whatever that means.
Assuming all of the above is true, that doesn't say much for AMT, PAEMSS, or the Project Medical Director in charge of AMT. It also doesn't say much for Dr. Parker McRae's forum article in the Peoria Journal Star advocating for the AMT takeover in Peoria Heights.
It is amazing what influential people can get other influential people to write in the newspaper. And I guess the Peoria Journal Star is buying into what the influential want.
John Carroll
Monday, December 4, 2006
Peoria Heights Fire Department
The main theme in the article concerned paying the volunteer EMT’s who work for the Peoria Heights Fire Department.
However, interesting concepts were brought up in the article that reflects what is happening in Peoria. The people in Peoria Heights have obviously been following the unfortunate events in Peoria with the Peoria Fire Department during the last 15 years.
Wayne Baum, one of the Peoria Heights trustees, would like to see AMT provide the service for Peoria Heights. Mr. Baum states, “ My concern is not what you can do, but what you can’t do”. He was explaining how AMT can administer a number of drugs and do procedures that Peoria Heights Fire Department, a basic level provider, can’t offer. Thus, I would assume that Mr. Baum would believe that the Peoria Fire Department is offering an inferior quality of service too.
Interestingly, Chief Reichert responded by saying that the Peoria Heights ambulance service can upgrade its level of service. By this Chief Reichert meant that the Peoria Heights department can go to Intermediate or Advanced life support. Chief Reichert is well aware that in order to upgrade their service, this would have to be done with the blessing of the Project Medical Director who is a physician and is employed at OSF and is controlled by OSF. OSF is AMT’s biggest local supporter and would love to see AMT have the mandate to monopolize the Peoria Heights pre-hospital care as it has in Peoria.
Chief Reichert is well aware that the Peoria Fire Department, which takes over 10,000 medical EMS calls each year has been held at basic life support with defibrillation and basic drugs for many years. Chief Reichert is also aware that the Peoria Fire Department is present at the scene quicker than AMT much of the time for serious medical emergencies, can only provide basic service, and cannot transport the patient. Chief Reichert knows that the Peoria Fire Department was forced into selling their only ambulance several years ago and he does not want Peoria Heights put into the same unfortunate situation as Peoria by AMT and the wealthy supporters of AMT.
Chief Reichert wisely states,” Having our own service ensures a quick response.”
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Peoria Heights Firefighters Gain Advanced Status
There is an incredible article in the Peoria Journal Star this morning.
The article states that the Peoria Heights Fire Department received its official Advanced Life Support certification last night. This makes it the first city or village-run ambulance service to offer paramedic care 24 hours per day, seven days a week in Peoria County history.
Please see this article and this article which gives some history regarding the above.
I don't think that the Peoria Heights firefighters ever trusted Advanced Medical Transport (AMT) to do a good job for the people of Peoria Heights. I don't think they trusted former OSF Project Medical Directors to do the right thing for the people of Peoria Heights.
The Peoria Heights firefighters have watched for 15 years as the Peoria Fire Department was kept out of the "paramedic business" in Peoria. They are aware of the conflict of interest that kept Peoria mired in Basic Life Support.
But during the last couple of years the Peoria Fire Department has been upgraded to paramedic and Peoria citizens serviced by Station #12 are receiving advanced life support for the first time in Peoria history. (I have been told that Station #12 in Peoria is responding to 911 medical calls with advanced life support 2-3 times each day.)
Conflict of interest is still present in Peoria's medical community but Dr. Cheryl Colbenson, the Project Medical Director for the Peoria region, gave the "official certification" to the Peoria Heights firefighters last night. She is an OSF employee and was only able to certify the Heights firefighters with OSF's and Dr. George Hevesy's approval. Dr. Hevesy has been on OSF's and AMTs's salary for many years.
EMS is slowly upgrading in the Peoria area. It has been a long struggle, but it is changing.
Here is today's Journal article regarding Peoria Heights Fire Department:
Heights firefighters gain advanced status
Department 1st in county to offer around-the-clock advanced coverage.
By SCOTT HILYARD
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
Posted Oct 06, 2009 @ 10:03 PM
PEORIA HEIGHTS — The Peoria Heights Fire Department received its official Advanced Life Support certification at the Village Board meeting Tuesday night, making it the first city- or village-run ambulance service to offer advanced coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week in Peoria County.
Officially certified by the state Department of Public Health, the new, more advanced, less restrictive procedures and equipment were available to paramedics and ambulance staff on the first ambulance run after 7 p.m. Tuesday.
"We've gone through our records and we do believe that the Peoria Heights Fire Department Ambulance Services is the first 24/7, advanced life support, transporting agency in Peoria County history," said Kenny Martin, ambulance administrator. "We're all pretty well pumped up about it."
As recently as 2007, the village's ambulance service had 12 part-time employees and was able only to provide basic life support and coverage from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are now 37 people on staff, including three full-time shift leaders, and 13 licensed paramedics. Of the 24 employees who are certified emergency medical technicians, 13 are currently in training to become paramedics.
The new designation changes the way paramedics can treat patients on their way to emergency services at an area hospital. The service is able to carry and use a wider range of medications, including narcotics. Paramedics now are able to use a heart monitor and advanced airway equipment on patients.
"Basically what it does is allow us to do more advanced procedures in the field," Martin said. "It's unusual for a department our size to be able to do what we have done by getting this certification."
The service passed the inspection of four public health inspectors Tuesday morning and was given the official certification at the board meeting Tuesday evening by Cheryl Colbenson, the medical director of Region 2 Emergency Medical Services, which includes Peoria County.
Scott Hilyard can be reached at 686-3244 or at shilyard@pjstar.com.
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