The purpose of the "Giles Free Speech Zone" is to identify problems of concern to the people of Giles County, to discuss them in a gentlemanly and civil manner, while referring to the facts and giving evidence to back up whatever claims are made, making logical arguments that avoid any use of fallacy, and, hopefully, to come together in agreement, and find a positive solution to the problem at hand. Help make a difference! Email "mcpeters@usit.net" to suggest topics or make private comments.
$330,000.00 for three new ambulances; $41,500.00 for new computers to go in ambulances; $150,000.00 for a new animal shelter; $500,000.00 for water resolution; between two and three million for
posted by Allen Barrett | 11:56 AM
124 Comments:
It's time to sell the ambulance service. It is a money drain and carbuncle on the whole county that could be better run with private management. Allen Barrett
maybe we should do away with water the animal shelter and sam davis park also!!!!!!!!
Sound the alarms!!! I agree with WAB!
Sell the Ambulance service. We move to Elkon. We move to Lynnville without regard to how much it costs.
Sell it!
all your commissioners and show your support for a sale. Now is the time to do it.
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The "Spamming Moron" has returned, trying once again to hijack a thread by reposting (many, many times) a thread from elsewhere on this blog.
His pointless "comments" have, of course, been deleted.
Carry on.
Air Evac is available for rural residents who want a service that can respond quickly.
People live in remote areas because that is exactly where they want to live. There is no immediate police or ambulance or any other service waiting for our call. If you are a thief or up to other mischief & break into my house, the meat wagon will be carrying one of us off whenever they get here & it won't matter if it takes 2 minutes or an hour. A 12 guage at 10 feet takes no prisoners & doesn't require a negotiator or SWAT team.
We're peaceful people & welcome strangers & neighbors alike. I know the risks of heart attack & accidents & more than willing to accept them for the God given right to live in this beautiful place. You nor anyone else owes me anything to protect me from that which I love. I'll do that free of charge. If it's my time to go, so be it - living where I live is worth it! Definately not afraid of dying to enjoy or protect it.
PS Cities were made for people who want someone to protect them - someone to extend their life for another blink of an eye - whatever ... nothing wrong with city life. All I ask is, don't try to citify the country & don't try to make someone else pay for it - including me, you, or people who are already paying city taxes for themselves!
When my father lived in the country one time he had to bring mama to the ER. As he got into the city limits a cop pulled him over for driving too fast. When the cop asked him why didn't he call for an ambulance he replied...
"Well I looked outside & didn't see on handy so i drove her in myself!"
Absolutely true story & i loved it so much i had to share it!!
Great story! Great philosophy!
Why are they buying new units when they can not staff they place. Marshall County does not have the staffing problems Mr Gtiggs does.
Can some one tell me why we can not keep our staffing here..
Three reasons MANAGEMENT, MANAGEMENT, MANAGEMENT
But Management is always whining for more money, says thats the problem. Now they are wanting to pay for schooling.
Then why do the continue to put up with the way the place is ran? I do not understand any of this a few months months back it was former employees causing the problem now what is the problem. Staffing is not a problem in Lincoln, lawrance, marshall or maury so please tell me why they do not fix the management problem?
Better ask Ms Vanzant or better yet, Terry Hughes.
If, as wksr has reported, the average number of calls from the Lynnville are and Minor Hill are about the same
eleven from each is it really reasonable to think that over half a million dollars a year is justified for these two stations? Think about it eleven calls in thirty days.... eleven days were there is something to do and nineteen days with nothing to do. Is our government good or what?
This is a sad touchy thing. People from Elkton, Lynville and Minor Hill need help in getting their family to the hospital. The 15 minutes or more it takes the ambulance to get there could mean life or death.
Helping save lives is very important. Yes people are air lifted, but don't the ambulance people get there before it's called?
But I allso understand how they think Giles County people have golden eggs. I missed getting that hen.
If one of the places get an ambulance station the other two should also.
Come on people. Think about who the commissioners are in Elkton and Minor Hill. They either wanted a local service nearby for themselves or were trying to turn political tricks, maybe get elected to a county wide office?? Aren't they some of the first two to scream abuse of tax dollars for projects other than those that are self serving?
If it were not for Stoney Jackson when as committee chairman come up with the idea of cutting money out of the budget to buy a new ambulance each year as it was done in the past,the ambulance service would not be needing three new ones now.I think he along with some other committee members were told by the director at that time that this very thing would happen, but Jackson and the fine county exc.Vanzant didn't listen.This is what is wrong with the Ambulance Service now!!
I do not believe that is the only problem at that service. They have run off most the paramedics there due to how the place is managed now the county doles out 15 an hr on part time and not to mention they are paid overtime too. It is long over due but the good ole boy running the place needs to go and they need to get people in there that have a clue in how to run the service!!!
What everyone needs to see is the number of write-off that is voted on each month. It is ridiculous the amount of money that is not being collected by the department. Whose to blame, I don't know but something has got to give. The ambulance service is losing more and more money and is costing the tax payers in the long run. It would probably be safe to say that if the ambulance service don't shape up and get Paramedics on board these ambulances on every call, it's just a matter of time the county will be sued and the county will lose. I firmly believe that a private company will not take that chance and will keep paramedics on board so that proper medications can be given if needed.
The way I understand it, there have been numerous calls in this county where a paramedic was needed but not on board.
Could the reason the Ambulance service is loosing money be that a lot of the calls, they never receive pay for?
When they get a call they respond quickly, they don't take time to see if the person can pay.
How would you like for them to wait to see if you could pay before coming after your love one?
To me money from the county should go to the ambulance service before to a ball field.
I know we have some that don't want to work, but some try and still don't make enough money to get by on. The way taxes goes up along with gas and groceries, we may all not be able to pay.
Hey, guess what the ambulance service isn't even signed up with Tenncare so all those calls you speak of from those without funds don't have much of a chance of being paid.
Now guess the reason why the ambulance service isn't signed up with Tenncare, it's because Mr. Griggs has stated on several occasions "Tenncare don't pay enough in reimbursements" so it's better to take nothing than to take a reduced amount. I suppose it's the "new math" that creates the thinking that zero is greater any any other number.
good grief!
They are not getting paid on TennCare that is nuts. How do citizens know what is going on there and the commissioners and Vanzant act like they are clueless when asked about the goings on at the ambulance service.
Does that mean that if I am on Tenncare they won't pick me up or just that they won't get paid. If they work like they hospital they will send a bill before you leave the hospital and then threaten to turn it over to collections before a payment can be made. I have insurance and I have been threatened with collections even before the insurance is filed!! The billing out there is awful. Maybe some people in billing at the hospital need to go to work for the ambulance service.
They can not send people on TennCare to collections they just can not collect on the calls. They do not take patients that have TennCare to other facilities; for example transfers to Maury or one of the hospitals in Nashville. These patients instead have to wait for another private service usually from Nashville ( any of you see Pride, First Call and even Moore Care) to transport our citizens from this county. This is all due to the TennCare Contract not being signed. All surrounding counties did sign the contract. So as you can tell we are losing a significant amount of cash flow in to that service.....
Now once again why do they insist on allowing such incompetance go on at yet another county entity?
All this talk about tenncare contract. The tenncare contract only applies to non emergency calls. Yes these NON EMERGENCY calls do have to wait sometimes. But do you want an ambulance available when you have a heart attack or when you need to see your private doctor at his or her office. Not signing a tenncare contract helps to gauruntee that you get an ambulance when you need one in the case of an emergency. Tenncare pays in the event of an emergency. What it does not pay for, EMS writes it off. That gaurantees that you have access to healthcare despite the ability to pay. That is one of the reasons the write off amount is fairly high. There are a lot of folks here that have to rely on that insurance. That is the County's burden to bear in order to provide for it's citizens, which brings up the question of our county paying to send someone to another system or hospital....
An ambulance should be utilized when it is medically necessary. When it is used and there is not that medical need, then who should pay for that service? Tencare, now Amerigroup, and Medicare have strict guidelines on what they pay for and what they do not. These private services that were mentioned, Pride Care, First Call and even Moore Care, can bill tenncare patients for services that are not paid or covered if there is no contract. They also can afford to accept the lower rates Tenncare pays them. They do not have the overhead that an ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT service has. Giles County has ALS (Advanced Life Support) service and units. There is a significant increase in the amount of equipment that the state of Tennessee requires on an ALS unit versus a BLS unit. There has to be business ethics applied to running a public agency , in this case Giles County EMS. If there wasn't it WOULD fold. Now these non emergency calls include Home to Dr. office (which Medicare refuses to pay), nursing home to Dr Office, nursing home to home, hospital to hospital when the first hospital IS CAPABLE of admitting and treating the patient, just to name a few. Why should Giles County agree to run these types of calls knowing ahead of time that the tenncare reimbursement will be less than other carriers, knowing that it will take an ALS unit out of reach of that heart attack victim or that person in that wreck, and that it pays more to operate than those other services. There is NO profit there. There has to be some profitibility with running an EMS service or it will fold. Do you think that for one minute that Pride Care, Moorecare, or the others would give their services away? Not hardly. I urge you to call each of them and ask them for a free ride. That is what our EMS service was providing some of these patients, free rides. When we were under contract to transport these patients, and their condition and need for the ambulance was refused by tenncare or medicare, we were left providing service for free.
There are the two sides to running an ambulance service. They do not intermingle. If you choose to do both, the public is at risk when an ambulance is needed in the time of an emergency. If you privatize the ambulance service, then it will go where the money is, THAT IS BUSINESS. Now in years past we were able to accomodate these calls and have ALS coverage left. Population increases relate to volume increases. We do not have the manpower any longer to continue to provide both types of services. We do a small amount now but there could be substantial wait times. If you leave the service in charge of the public, in our case county owned, then the public has a say to an extent, how those units are managed. Spring Hill went private. They have two ambulances at their disposal. I personally witnessed one of those two units at the smyrna hospital last evening taking a patient FROM that facility. That just cut Spring Hill's EMS coverage in half. What can the city do about it. NOTHING... A private business provides their service.
The computers that have been requested for the ambulances are not for internet surfing or sending emails. They are for completing patient care reports. These reporting and billing programs are medicare compliant (most insurance companies use medicare as a guideline on when to pay and when not to pay). So when a run ticket is accepted by the program, then it is ready to be sent to Medicare for reimbursement and we will get the most that is due to us here. As the system is now, written run tickets have no electronic way of checking for errors. Humans will make mistakes. If a run ticket is sent to Medicare, and it has an error, medicare may not pay what should be due. The computers can also possibly be programmed with mapping software that will get that ambulance to you even quicker.Now back to the billing thing. An ER doctor charges you based on how sick or hurt you are. EMS is basically the same way. Medicare recognizes different levels of service provided. Now the ambulance service here in Giles County has to be prepared to provide the highest service to the most critical patients 100% of the time. However every run made is not to that level of care. Why should our service here accept runs at a lower level knowing in advance that there is not a way to get their cost back. That is why the private companies can make money. They do not have to prepare for the worst. They have to prepare to perform the minimal care levels, which is the cost difference in operations. We need to be finding ways to improve the service we have here, outsourcing decreases quality. I have been involved with Emergency Services here for more that 20 years in one capacity or another. I have been working on an ambulance for 16 years and have been a paramedic for 13 of those. I have personally educated a decent percentage of the EMTs and Paramedics that serve in the middle Tennessee area. I KNOW HOW THIS STUFF WORKS. I would love to sit down over coffee (my treat even) and discuss things especially with WAB.
Mr. Griggs you are doing a wonderful job with what you are allowed to have. The staff at Giles EMS are great. Support needs to come from above....
yeah like prayer from above because that's what it's gona take to fix things over there is an act of god.
I fully agree that a private ambulance service can not exist without making a profit so the way they do that is by cutting overhead.
Because of their liability they can not cut service only the cost of doing things such as having a director who functions as a paramedic going on runs etc instead of sitting in an office or riding around town in an official car. Efficiency is the major cost cutter that is used by most every private ambulance service and other private businesses. It is time to sale the county ambulance service and stop the financial drain on the county. Allen Barrett
thats cool sell the service. then the comission or the county has no say so in the way the place is ran or functions. when it is cut to the bare minimum, with the cheapest equipment that money can buy, maybe maury county won't be too busy that day to send units to help out in the county. but if they are, oh well you or your loved one can wait. hopefully you'll make it!!! what the problem here is, there is no benefit to work in giles county!!! who the hell can afford $900 a month in insurance? not me! why would i work at giles for $10 a hour when i can go up the road a little ways and make $12 or better? the problem here is the county wants a class A service but only wants to pay for a class D service. yes i do work there for $15.60 a hour, but who wouldn't? i mean it takes a 1st grader to see what happened, they increased the part time pay and got alot of part timers, reckon what would happen if they increased the full time pay???
******** cut service only the cost of doing things such as having a director who functions as a paramedic going on runs etc instead of sitting in an office or riding around town in an official car.************
Mr. Barrett
I am not sure what fantasy world you live in but the director here goes on runs quite a bit. I have personally been on several with him myself. He shows up to calls after office hours. His capacity is an added ALS resource. I have come back to the station numerous times after midnight to find our director there manning an extra ambulance when we are busy. How many bosses have you had in your working career that worked beside you day in and day out. NONE !!!! You need to be educated in our field. Take my offer and sit down with me over coffee. Let me explain how things work. You seem as if you are someone with a personal problem with the director here but you also seem passionate about how you feel. You fail to see the big picture I am afraid. You do not, nor can you afford to, have your director of services in the medical field function as a staff paramedic. I currently work for a service with 14 ambulances on the road 24 hours a day. We have 12 stations, we have 8 station managers that are responsible for those stations, they do not ride the ambulance, we have 2 supervisors that are not on the ambulance, we have public relations and building maintenance, all who are paramedics, who do not ride the ambulance. In addition we have Three paramedics in administration positions (director, personnel director, and transport supervisor). Here in Giles County the director and filed supervisor are the only two that are not on the ambulance. But, in the time of need, they will man an ambulance. Why should a man that has dedicated his professional life to this county, work just as hard today as he did almost 30 years ago? Do you??? Please, sit down with me over coffee...
Medic man
People need to understand (with the county ambulance service)the citizens will get an ambulance regardless of having insurance or not. If the service is sold and it becomes a "private-owned" service then the ambulance guarantee is most likely out the window. EXAMPLE:you or your loved one could be having a heart attack. You call for an ambulance. The person who answers the phone says," Do you have ins."? Or " What kind ins. do you have"? Arent you thinking ' heck with the ins. questions, I need an ambulance fast'?
What would you think about that and what would you do? A private owned co. has every right to deny you transport. A co.owned service will come get you regardless! The co. is then left holding the bag if those people dont have ins.But, Hey, the thing that matters most is they got help.
Commenting on the request for new computers:
Yes they are used for documenting the calls that an ambulance crew responds to. The computers are also used for continueing education for the employees as well. The employees are continously training and taking test on the computers to stay abreast on their skills. These tests are taken by each of the employees every single month, and are recorded and kept for the state to inspect each and every year.
Mr. Barrett,
Let me ask you a question. I have worked for several private ambulance services and trust me you are not getting ahead by wanting this. First of all, when a new service comes in the first thing they do is clean house. Do you think Giles County residents get someone they know now? Sometimes they do. If you clean house most the good people will quit and go else where.
Second thing, If you call for an ambulance and the private service is out of units one will be dispatched from the closest base that they have. If you consider it takes from 6-10 min for heart muscle to die then you might not get the help you need. Time is muscle.
Third, The dept that has the lowest number of calls will get the poorest of the equipment. All of the other stations hand me downs. They might promise the moon but all you will get is the shaft.
Paramedic at Giles Co EMS.
To Medic man and others. I'm afraid scare tactics don't work very well on me. A private ambulance service is under primarily the same state requirements that a county owned ambulance service is. The overwhelming difference is the private company is required to maintain an effective up to date service that makes money while a county owned service is required to maintain an effective up to date service that has no concern for paying their bills. Both would be REQUIRED to respond to emergency calls. The present service has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past few years. One of the big points as to why the book keeper had to stay at the service instead of moving to the financial management office was so she could be on hand to fill out records for ambulance runs now we're told there's a need for tens of thousands of dollars worth of on-board computers to do this same job.
You are wrong, very wrong to say, "How many bosses have you had in your working career that worked beside you day in and day out. NONE !!!! You need to be educated in our field". I spent close to twenty years as an army medic I worked in field hospitals and general hospitals, in Emergency Rooms and Operating Rooms, I worked out of ambulances, helicopters and a field bag. I treated, without the benefit of computer or doctor, wounds requiring sutures, tourniquets etc.
I held sick call and directed triage where I made decisions of who would be treated and who would be left to bleed. Many things only a doctor is allowed to do in civilian life. When I had a boss they were there when I was, when I was the boss I was there when others were. Granted I have been out of the military a long time but somethings aren't forgotten so don't lecture me about what a medic does.
You are wrong again to think I have something personal against Mr. Griggs I don't. My personal dealing with him have been friendly though not in depth.
For me the thing is about efficiency and effectiveness. There seems to be a morale problem at the ambulance service where some are at least perceived to be treated differently and paid differently. Why should part timers be paid more than full timers? I know there is a difference in benefits give the people a choice more pay with less benefits or less pay with more benefits. There is nothing the present service offers that a private service can't provide except for the politics. I would be glad to have coffee with you or anyone else and discuss anything you want. I'm willing to be educated but not willing to be treated with contemptuous disrespect. Allen Barrett
Mr. Barrett
I never meant any disrespect in any of the comments that I have made. I am only wanting to inform you. No disrespect intended. I appreciate your involvement in our military as some of your efforts have given me the ability to speak here and for that I am eternally grateful. So trust me sir, I have nothing but respect for your position, I just do not agree with it.
**** The overwhelming difference is the private company is required to maintain an effective up to date service that makes money while a county owned service is required to maintain an effective up to date service that has no concern for paying their bills.****
This is is not actuality. I would like to take a trip with you and show you what the difference in county government and private services are. We need to go sit in front of an ER and watch from a distance. You will then be able to see the difference in appearance and in equipment. As far as maintaining UP TO DATE service; the state sets MINIMUMS for patient care. I assure you that the private services will provide just that. It is cost effective to them. There are many medication differences and treatment options. Our treatment options here in Giles County are vast in comparision to even Williamson County. We have them beat in many areas. Each entity varies from county to county.
***** don't lecture me about what a medic does. ******
You apparently seemed closed minded about me wanting to let you in on how things are done in the public sector and how they are done today. For that I am sorry. I have been in the same positions as you have in the field with the exception that none of my experience was on or around a battlefield. Unfortunately one does not out weigh the other in my opinion. Choosing who lives and who dies sucks. I have done it many times over that last several years. I don't think that WHERE that happens makes a bit of difference on how it makes a person feel. I am not trying to tell you how to be a medic but only how EMS functions in the public sector. We are not the military. Our goals for decreasing morbidity and mortality may be similar, but how that care is provided to the public versus a soldier on a battlefield is profoundly different.
*** Both would be REQUIRED to respond to emergency calls. ***
Correct, but the big corporate company does not care how quickly it responds. The state says a county gevernment has to provide ambulance coverage. It says an ambulance has to be disptached when a call for help is made. It DOES NOT regulate where that ambulance comes from. Let's just say hypothecically that rural-metro runs our service. IF you run out of ambulances due to volume, which happens frequently, then the next closest unit would come from the Williamson-Maury County line. Whereas right now, we could rely on mutual aid agreements with neighboring counties. The money issue is second to patient's access to medical care. It would be just the opposite with a private company. They would not turn that potential income over to another service.
*** There seems to be a morale problem at the ambulance service****
I am getting the impression that that you are being supplied information about our EMS service since you speak of morale. I wonder if the information that you are supplied is coming from a current happy employee or a past disgruntled one.
*** Why should part timers be paid more than full timers? ***
Part timers base rates are less than a full timers overtime rate but more than their base rate of pay. Part timers are also not allowed to get any overtime which is built into a full time employees pay. Each full time staff has an average of 16 hours of overtime each week. That comes from working the 24-48 schedule. Now each week differs from apay period. Two out of every three pay periods,which are two weeks, a full time employee gets 40 hours of overtime. One out of every three pay periods there is 16. Part timers higher base rate assists the ambulance service in getting shifts covered without paying high overtime rates. For example, a full time staff gets $12.00 per hour with an overtime rate of $18.00. Since the ambulance has to be staffed, why not put a part time medic in the spot making $15.00 per hour. This is a common practice around the area. One crew can't work any harder to overcome someone's absence. We can only answer one call at a time per ambulance. So when someone is out, their time HAS TO BE FILLED. Part timers also do not get ANY benefits. I am a part time paramedic here. But I have a long history here dating back to the early 90s as an employee. I would be full time here if the benefits were affordable for my family. This is not a problem the EMS department has any control over despite who is in charge of it. I work here part time because the management here cares about the citizens more that it does their ability to pay. Which is the absolute reason I do not work at neighboring counties north of here and is the very reason that I left from there. My full time employer now has the same attitude as Giles County with better benefits basically due to it's size I am sure. Despite what you have been told, this is a great place to work. We have a very agressive medical director that allows us to funtion and think on our own. The management system at the ambulance service trust our judgement and intervenes only out of necessity. It's rare that you can look forward to working somewhere.
**** There is nothing the present service offers that a private service can't provide except for the politics.****
Standard of care is completely different. It is not as good with a large private company. The large company will provide the minimum for it's staff to perform it's duties. I have seen it happen in Spring Hill. Most of the people originally hired have since quit. They were promised one thing and got another. That is what happens almost all of the time. These private services promise the world and provide nothing close. I know of folks that used to work here and some that use to work at Maury. Both left and went to work for Rural Metro in Spring Hill. Didnt take long to realize that the big company cared about one thing...PROFIT. these good people left that service. The quality dropped in that city when those folks left in large numbers. Most of the folks that work here have family here. They live here. Undoubetly you busted your butt while in the military for those wounded or sick brothers at arms. You went above and beyond. Our staff does that here for their family. You do not want a big company without ties here taking care of you. That "earnest to care for" and "diligence to perform" will not exist. There would be no motivation. I have a good respect for you. I would love to sit dwn and talk about your experiences. I would hope you could listen to some of mine and find out what drives me to perform. I am a man of perfection when it comes to delivering EMS to people. My ability would be decreased if corporate America tried to intervene in my ability to function. Coffee would be good.... You pick the place, I buy...
MedicMan
Medic man,
I couldn't agree more with you...I also would like to sit down and speak with Mr. Barrett. I would buy also. I have ten to twelve years in this business and would love share some of my experiences also. Maybe we could come to an agreement with him. Or just agree to disagree.....
Medic @ GCEMS
Medic Man
As you wrote your post at 1:38 a.m. do we assume you are writing/reading this blog while on the job at Giles Co Ambulance Service?
wabg..
Goodness, you need to lighten up. You were not being treated with contemptuous disrespect.
As the above post reads.....
Medic Man
As you wrote your post at 1:38 a.m. do we assume you are writing/reading this blog while on the job at Giles Co Ambulance Service?
Why is it that some people assume that we are reading this while on the job??? We don't make a lot of money but we can at least afford the internet.
I posted all of this at home.
Paramedic employee of GCEMS
Sure Medic Man youv'e posted all of this at home, kinda like you're not getting paid any overtime? Sell the Ambulance to the private sector. The good ole boys will go home.
Medic Man is good in writing and using his fancy wording.Mr. Barrett don't be fooled. Medic Man is trying to become a politician,perhaps trying to ease his way back into the director job as he did once before.His writing got him in trouble before, maybe he can fool more commissoners this time
To Medic man, I took offense at this sentence, "How many bosses have you had in your working career that worked beside you day in and day out. NONE !!!! You need to be educated in our field". If you say you intended not disrespect I can accept that. I would be more than happy to sit down with you are anyone else that wanted to and talk about anything you want. I know I don't have all the answers to anything and am very willing to listen and be convinced to change my mind about many things.
Since you have an unusual work schedule just give me a call my number is in the book we can work out a time and place and that goes for anyone who might want to speak with me about anything. Allen Barrett
*****Medic Man is good in writing and using his fancy wording.Mr. Barrett don't be fooled. Medic Man is trying to become a politician,perhaps trying to ease his way back into the director job as he did once before.His writing got him in trouble before, maybe he can fool more commissoners this time*****
Medic man is not just good at writing he is passionate about his job and about how Giles EMS is forwarded into the future.I am now going to put my name formally behind this. Let's see if you will do the same. I have lived here in GIles COunty for over 35 years moving here when I was 3. My family still lives here. I raise my children here. Of course what goes on here is a major concern of mine. The writings you speak about before were entered into a website by someone other than myself using my name. I found out about that writing when the ambulance commision was voting on whether to put me in front of the commision for a vote as director. Mr. Morris was the one who brought the letter that surfaced to the attention of the ambulance commitee. Gee I wonder where that letter came from. Wonder why Chris Morris waited sooo long to bring that writing up anyway. I know, he had friends that he was trying to please. I doubt it very seriously that he had it in for me personally, Jeff Hatfiled either for that fact. They were just pressured from someone else. I had numerous commsioners promise things while I made an effort to become the director at Giles. THEY LIED. Jeff Hatfield was one. He voted FOR me at the ambulance commitee level then changed his vote at the full commision. He blamed it on Mr. Stoney Jackson for getting him mad over an education issue. Chris Morris did pass on me at the ambulance commitee level then voted no in full commission. I was picked by a random commitee after resumes and an interview to get that job then, but I have no desire today to go at that position. Mr. Griggs is a former partner of mine. He tought me not only how to be a medic but how to care for people. I would never ever step on his toes or disrespect his authority in running the ambulance service. He has done an awesome job with what the county elected officials have let him have to work with. Roy you are an exceptional man and I have the upmost respect for you. Yes I would have liked to been the director here. I would have liked to have had the chance. But alas the good ole BUDDY system put a stop to that. I am not bitter about not getting the job. I am bitter about having my integrity questioned because that is not how I was reared. My parents are wonderful people and tought me wonderful values. Whoever you are you have definitely struck a nerve with me questioning the very integrity that I hold dear. But I am better for it. As far as fancy words go, it is called an education. Put your name on here, and back up what you say.....
Medic Man
SCOTT STOREY....
As you wrote your post at 1:38 a.m. do we assume you are writing/reading this blog while on the job at Giles Co Ambulance Service?
Actually yes I was on duty. I never said I didn't. Read, my friend, read. Check the author.by the way, would you have rather me been sleeping? That was the only other thing to do at that hour. Since not on a run, my ambulance ready for a call, me in uniform sitting in front of a computer terminal, I can see where that would get you worried that I could not perform my duties. Make a formal complaint... IT won't hurt my feelings to not get my blood pressure up while at work reading what folks write behind an anon tag.....YOUR MOVE
Scott
Jeff Hatfield was never on the ambulance committee.
I beg to differ. Mr. Jeff Hatfield was on the Ambulance Committe for 1 year between Oct, 2003 thru Sept. 2004. Now as to whether he ever attended I cannot say.
good points scott!!! you would have made a excellent director there! even better than the one there now, i do believe. i might even would still be there if so. but you know as well as i do all the wrong that is going on there. tell me why is there a secretary there making more than 30,000 a year to really do nothing? well when she's there from what i hear! why does roy let her and one of the supervisors run the place? a supervisor of which no one wants to work for. from what i been told he can't even fill his shift with part time that makes 15 an hour or better 22 an hour. why has something not been done about that? exactly what is a supervisors job there? would you please tell me. i mean theres over a 100,000 a year there just for someone to not have a job. just because they been there sooo long and they cant be fired or demoted or asked to retire.
Anybody heard anything about a private business looking to buy the ambulance service?
To anonymous from April 3, 2008 @ 11:45 am....
I assume that you were an employee of GCEMS. Why did you leave? Instead of trying to change by talking about things, why didn't you stay and try to change them by working hard and doing what is right? I don't mean any disrespect for you on the question I am just trying to figure out some things I have heard and want to know the truth.
What is wrong with the ambulance people using the computer? It is not like they need to be riding around town looking for business. If they have their paperwork done what else can they do while waiting for a call. I suppose they could lie down and take a nap but that does not make for an alert person. I would much rather someone come help me that has been playing on the computer and is alert than one who woke up to come to me. Some people don't wake up alert!! Keep using the computer you have my blessing, for what that's worth.
First to Mr. Barrett anytime you would like to have coffee and talk I would be more than happy to.
Next I would like to address Scott. I have sat quietly by and been slandered accused of saying things I never had and been verbal assualted by both Roy and Eloise at a county commission meeting. Scott you are the reason that I first came here to Giles County, you called me on the phone and when I voiced my fears and reasons as to why I did not want to you assured me I was more than tough enough to hang with the "Old Boys Club!" As I am sure you have now figured out this is Caroline Stokes and you were such a moving force in my life and I have became a compassionated and caring paramedic, who adores her job, and I do thank you for being a wonderful teacher and believing I could do this when I did not believe that myself and you were right.
I took your advice in October of 2004, and tough on me they where. I liked Roy and held him in high regard until I felt he would say what he needed to pacify you and things would not change. Scott I lost time was told I would lose more time for wearing pink nail polish while other girls there had black on, my hair which you know was never very long was made to be pulled up while others had no comments made and those on my shift heard this happening and I could go on. Still I stayed because I had grown to love the county I lived in and wanted to take care of the people that live here and that includes my children. Those on my shift became my second family and I adored them and learned to steer clear of my supervisor he had his way of thinking and I had mine (that was ok). I learned to be my patients biggest advocate because many over there are not and you too know that. I learned to stand up for me and not ever did I disrespect those in charge.
Yes I signed a grievance because I felt what was happening and especially the infamous mandatory overtime was not fair. I did it or would face losing my job I was made to work when my child was in ER when they were sick and countless school functions, it got to the point that those of us this there were exhausted several of us got hurt just due to exhaustion. We all on more than one occassion tried in vain to get Roy to listen to us (and to this day I still like Roy very much) but he would talk with fork in tongue. So as a group we filed a grievance with the County Exectutor and yes they gave as a hearing but in the end nothing changed and working conditions became unbearable. Of the 6 of us who signed our name to that letter only one is still employed. I assume the straw that broke the camels back for me was when Roy hired a new paramedic (he had been one for two weeks) and paid him a dollar more an hour, when I went to him it was another song and dance and when all was said and done I left. I vowed to fight for change there and prayed that some one on the commission would listen. I was proud to wear that Giles County patch on arm and it broke my heart when I left. My youngest child came home from school crying because of ugly things being said about me, yet I still continued to fight until I went to a commission meeting and Roy, someone I liked, acted in a manner someone in his postion should never have. After that I had no fight left and have not said a word until now.
First I want to assure you I have never called anyone a murderer, I did however have concerns as to how that employee could be on county insurance and be unable to drive. Nor have I called anyone a junkie once again was concerned after I was contacted by another county's financal manager and yes they made contact with me as have scores of countless other people. I was told I would never work in this county again in a public meeting that broke my heart! I live here this is my home all I ever wanted was competent and equal and fair treatment. I have been called ugly names while in WalMart with my infant granddaughter and her mother. It has cost me jobs ( I lost count of how many times in an interview I was told about one bad apple) and there were people there that had been former employees of Giles that even stood up for me but in the end I never heard from them again. I have not written on this blog but was told I need to read it and after doing so I can no longer take all the hateful hurtful things I have read. Do not know who wrote the posts, don't care, disrespect you have and you want to know the truth I have hard time believing anyone cares, change it will never happen because no one cares nor wants to listen. Tommy Pollard has been a target of such hate and spite, he has done nothing but try to fight for what is good and fair. He is one man and he does not nor does his family deserve what they have been subjected to. I thank him so much for not just taking one side or the other but talking to both and finding facts.
Facts are no TnCare contract was signed, yes most county's are in dispute with the AmeriGroups plan but all surrounding counties do have TnCare contracts signed and are taking all TnCare patients on non emergency calls. Second payroll for part time is breaking the budget there at 15.60/hr and 22/hr for overtime how could it not. Even as bad as I am with math I know lost of monies from TnCare and increasing output in payroll is not good for a balanced budget.
What am I doing now? I now drive 60 miles one way to work. I work for Rural Metro Franklin County EMS, we are a 911 ALS ambulance service for the county. I make almost 3.00 more dollars an hour (I took a cut in pay to work here and in the three years I was here I never made what I was when I left Franklin County the first time) I can now afford health insurance for my sons. I want to make this clear for all I never left Giles County because of the money nor benefits, this is and was my home, this is where I wanted to be. Yes I work for a for profit service there supervisors are on 24 hour trucks and can handle all issues that arise as does our director run calls. We NEVER and I mean NEVER ask our patients if they have insurance or refuse to transport if they do not, and they are treated with the highest quality of care. As for our equipment we have LifePak twelves and our director wants twelve leads on all chest pain calls, he also has scheduled several classes in 12 lead interpertation. As for as not being able to treat patients due to bare bones running of trucks. That is a false statement! I have all ALS drugs including vassoressin, drips, and our Med director is also director for Air Evac 44 and we are putting new protocols (very similar to Air Evac) in to play such as RSI, fentynl, ativan and zofran for N/V. Yes they are there to make a profit and no we turn no trips down and we work very hard. Franklin county has 39,152 people living there and 554.14 square miles, where as Giles has population of 29,153 and 611 sq miles. We have 2 24 hour ALS units and one 12 hour ALS day truck with an average call volume of 25 calls in 24 hour hours, yes I wish we had more units and appluade Giles county for having out stations but are they always staffed not hardly and its killing tax payers, worse yet outstations that are not paramedic staffed can not perform ACLS for cardiac patients, (no I am not saying that there are not some awesome EMT's here) but in a cardiac situation we all know time cost muscle. We fly trauma patients like here, and to stop some more of the ugly about me I just flew 2 crictal patients from scene was only ALS unit available at the time and not at any point was I wigged out on scene (Mr. Davis this is alittle info for you, oh do not want to forget you either Jason). My last shift I had 3 critical calls one was seizure, one unresponsive and MVA with greater than 8 inchs of intrusion and I performed same procedures as I would have here, I also gave the same meds as if I had been here!!
I miss working here this is my home but as we all know I will never be allowed to even work here part time because I tried to fight a good fight and just make things fair across the board, I also want people on the ambulances to be able to be proficent in there skills. As you know Scott there are some that are there that can not perform at there level of training and that is acceptable to you? I do not nor have I ever wanted any one to lose there job but many there have no problem costing me jobs. There are at least 27 paramedics who reside in this county and yet there is not a full staff here that makes me sad. You are right there is paramedic shortage everywhere but one or two not 5 or 6 as here. Oh in Franklin County 2 of the 3 shifts have double medic trucks (I am lucky enough to be on of the two), we also have 5 part time medics who make between 11.00 - 12.00 an hour (one of the part time is an RN-EMT-P). So I do not think your facts are so correct on the private service because none of us that includes me would lay our lisences on the line.
Scott, where were you the three years I was there? I did try and change things while there but when you can get no one to listen to you and even after she knew Mrs Vanzant did not and still does not care. Its the people that live here that are being affected and those in power do not care. I do not know if selling it is the right answer, no they will not come in and fire those working there they will reorganize and all will be expected to perform and be competent for the level of care they are certified in. I do know they are not going to continue to pay Paula $30,000 a yr to answer a phone and what ever else she does. People on shift are able to answer phones and write down calls. I do this every shift. I do not know what the solution to the problems there are I do know that things need to change and I wish I could have been able to be part of the change and still be wearing my Giles County patch, that always gave me a great source of pride to have that on my sleeve.
Caroline K. Stokes
EMT-P
EMT-P Stokes thanks for your very informative and supportive statement and for putting your name on it. I commend you for your efforts and the obvious frustration you and your family have experienced. Change requires much time and effort but I do believe that change is coming. With information like you have provided it must take place. Again I appreciate your comments. As for coffee sometime you like Scott have much more varying schedules than I so please just call sometime and I'll be glad to meet with you. Allen Barrett
Mr. Barrett,
Thank you for at least reading what I have written, I am well aware that by doing so there will be a huge amount of ugly negative backlash. I wish I had your faith that change will occur there but I have almost given up hope. As I stated in my above posting I have stayed quiet and prayed that things would change at the ambulance service. As to date that has not happened, not a week goes by that someone that has to deal with personnel from there begging me to keep fighting because people of the county deserve so much better.
I do not see how change will occur in the near future when people such as Mrs. Vanzant and Comissioner Hughes know the whole deal but turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the problems. Scott now backs Roy but yet when Roy was appointed to the position he quit and for the entire 3 years I was employed he was never there. I adore Scott and he was a wonderful guiding force in my life but he too knows the wrongs and it hurts a great deal for the people I cared so much for to be so cruel to myself and others, they too know the real deal.
Mr. Barrett, then I read more false statements about private services, we are governed by the same standards as the county agencies. Cities such as Knoxville, Orlando, Trenton, and New York City all have private services for EMS. I go to work every 3rd day for 24 hours and take care of the citizens in Franklin County, not one of us cares if they have insurance or live in one huge homes on the lake or in a cardboard box they all recieve the highest quality of care and employees are consistently given training and opportunties for more education. We have two new units and yes several older ones as does Giles and there older ones are placed at the out stations, one reason being call volumne not as great at out station and you need newer units for the heavier call volumne of the Main station.
I will take you up on your offer of coffee and thank you again for at least reading what I have written and not being ugly to me.
Caroline K. Stokes
EMT-P
Caroline -
I find it strange that a financial director from another county could call you and tell you that someone is a junkie. When a county employee takes a drug test that is not part of the open records act - thus that information is CONFIDENTIAL! I am not sure who to believe now you or the county financial director. I do not see that person putting his/her job on the line to "call" you with that information - seems a little strange to me.
--J. Hughes (tazkewldude@charter.net)
To J Hughes
Nevertheless, people talk, confidential or not.
That is true that people may talk; however, I do not see it being the financial manager of Lawrence County. She has a good head on her shoulders. Thus I cannot believe what Ms. Stokes has stated in her comments.
- J. Hughes
I never said anyone was a junkie please reread the post. Mr. Hughes I have not lied and yes I have talked to financial director. Mr. Hughes I have not lied about anything nor have I tried to hurt a sole but once again your only defense is to call me a liar. I signed my name to this post, Mr. Hughes you know as well as I the problems there.
Once again I have not said or called a person at the service any name nor have I tried to hurt anyone there. I did however have a problem at what was being said about a private ambulance service. Mr. Hughes on the other hand I do know how much disdain and dislike you have for myself.
Mr. Barrett what I have stated in these posts are not hard things to prove or disprove and it would take very little leg work. As stated in my above post the negative backlash and name calling is there best defense. I have given up any hope I have stood up for change only to be hurt more by people I held in a high respect.
Facts are as stated above no signed TnCare contract, overtime on parttime breaking the bank, inablity to fill full time postions, ( I am not talking just 1 or 2 openings), and private services are governed by same set of standards as county agencies. Now Mr. Hughes if you want to discuss these things with me I have no problem with that, but sir I will not play the name calling game anymore I have been hurt enough! Discuss the facts Commissioner Hughes!!!!!
Caroline
Caroline -
I just wanted to let you know that I am not a commissioner nor in any way related to Commissioner Hughes in Giles County.
Thanks -
J. Hughes
Yes, People do like to talk, if only the positive got as much focus and energy as the negative - but where's the drama in that?
To my knowledge I have never met Caroline, nor do I know the circumstances of why she no longer works with Giles Co but I can relate with her and the feeling she has been labeled a 'bad apple'.
I don't understand why I got dragged into all of this and I really don't care who said what about me. Although what did concern me was a Commissioner for Giles Co., whom I have never met, who knows nothing about me or the circumstances of why I no longer work for another county, would address a committee about me with heresay information. I thought the days of "guilty until proven innocent" were over with.
Had this Commissioner taken the time to stop by the Ambulance Service, met the new employee, talk with me, ask me why I no longer worked for the other county as others did, I would have gladly told him and perhaps not made the paper as being fired for being abusing drugs.
For the record:
I was not fired for using / abusing drugs
I was not fired for failing a drug test
I applied for and received my unemployment
It would be nice, as Caroline pointed out in her statement, if people want to talk, get your facts straight first.
Selena Jackson
NREMT-P
Selena..
I'm sure you know that there's always a small group of know-it-alls who don't seem to have anything better to do than to cause trouble for others. Take it for what it is and know that it's just a darker side of human nature in this, our human family!
One of these days they are going to push it too far when they start in on someone who is not going to tolerate it.
Why does it seem that Caroline tries to keep stirring the pot? She was an employee at Giles Co EMS and I can't figure out why she left? If it is so bad why do you bother yourself with all the so called bad? Your family may live here and you may have friends here but it seems like your plan probably backfired when you thought Roy would get fired if alot of people quit. If you really want change then do something about it....You quit and therefore you are looking from the outside in and don't know all of the facts because you aren't there. You may have a mole around one of us but there is no way you can say you know all of the story. If you do then you are exactly where you need to be .....away from here. Know it alls don't need to be in EMS and they should seriously look at replacing you at your place of employment also. If not then I am wrong. I know all places have problems but it seems like you are the ring leader in all this he said she said stuff going on with the ambulance committee. Talk is cheap and I am telling you that because you need to know ... I don't think anyone has told you that. Works actually do the deed and you seem just work that gossip!!!!
Just some FYI for ya!!!!!!!
Concerned EMS professional....I would give you my name but you wanted to drag another employee through the mud and you aren't gonna do that to me!!!!!!!
Guess that makes you a coward huh 10:46am?? Put your balls where you mouth is! Just a passerby reading this blog and have no affiliation to personell in the ambulance service or county government. You think not putting your name keeps you safe but when you run your mouth around giles county you might as well attach your name to your post. You must really be stupid. If you are an ambulance service employee I hope you are not one of the emt/medics on duty if I ever need emergency medical help. Rethink your actions and your words. It might definately be a good idea in your case! Know-it-alls are never needed but, someone with a clue surely would help in that place. Get rid of Roy! He is a nice guy but has no business managing that place.
I don't even have to make a point here.....When someone gets constructive advice or truth in your case you seem to get mad. People like you need to stay out of EMS. It doesn't matter who I am, the truth is you can't stand to see him do good and you don't like it. You can keep running your cake hole and eventually the truth will come out that you just stir the pot!!!! You just want the service sold so you can come to work in Giles Co. Who knows you might get it but if you do I won't live there anymore. I want people who know what to do not just leave and talk about it. Do works and not talk!!!!!!! Talk is cheap, so either do something or just shut up!!!Keep going and spreading lies then you and your so called cronies will get some credit....You also sound like a glory hound!!!!! Tell us a good war story while you are at it too. Remember talk is cheap and do works that is what will change things. I can talk about the election all I want but I have to vote to make a difference.
Concerned....
Concerned, you need to stop talking and listen to what you've said. Isn't stirring the pot doing something? There are a number of people who are very aware of the problems at the ambulance service but choose to remain quiet, ignore the problem or just deny it exist because fixing the problem requires work and a lot of difficulty and they would rather just
keep drawing their pay and live with the frustration.
Sell the thing or get some professional leadership the cost of doing nothing is too high.
I would like to know who these people are so that I may get the same information they are getting. I know everywhere has it's problems and I would like to know what is so big that everyone that keeps talking. I am an employee at Gies Co. EMS and from what I keep seeing each person that is talking are either former employees or someone who seems to find wrong in everything the county does. I have not seen those in reference at the ambulance service nor do I expect to. I do think that those who do keep "stirring the pot" need to approach things differently. I don't think the bull in a china shop approach is working. I also think Mr. Barrett needs to gather more info on EMS before he makes any suggestions on what he thinks is right for us. It's hard to make a decision when you haven't walked a mile in any EMS provider's shoes. No disrespect intended but instead on disageeing on many things pick your battles one at a time, become informed and then you "blow the whistle". Most of what I see are several former disgruntled employees trying to buck the system that was in place when they left. For this reason I believe that most of what I have been hearing is weeks and months of bad blood. This is a case of one person trying to hurt the other and the attacks getting worse as time goes on because these attacks are not working. I wonder if Caroline was in Roy's shoes, What would she do? I suspect, along with several more people I know, that is what she thought would happen. It didn't and now it seems like she has a few people on her side to discredit Roy. No disrespect. I have read on few posts here that she posted that kids at school were teasing her child about this. I highly doubt it, it may be true but doubtful. I'm not saying that any problems exist, I'm just saying the ones that others say exist, I don't see them.
I see that money, staffing, equipment and people are unhappy are the bigger issues on this blog or others. So let me see if I can put this as I see it. I am an employee and I do support Roy in his efforts to run this service the best way he knows fit. I will also say that I am very well educated with two degrees and working on a third now. So education is not part of it. I have heard that being said at some meeting as to seem "smarter" than anyone else listening.
1. Staffing - We now have more working for us than a year ago. Some of these people that are unhappy have talked alot and made people very reluctant on coming here. The more you talk the less people come. That translates to the less people here for your friends and family. I don't think I have to explain anymore.
2.Money - I know that with very little work at all you can get any part of the budget that will tell whether or not if we are making money. We are one of the only county depts that make money. We also get paid less than the road dept employees. Is it more important for the roads to be mowed than for your paramedics and emt's to be paid so we can get by? I know 15.60/hr seems high by some standards but why is it such an issue? Nurses make more than we do and no one yells about the hospital paying too much. You actually have be competitive in the workplace to attract employees. Working in EMS, you don't do it for the money but you do like to get by and have a little left over by the end of the month. I doubt that most of these people upset would work here for less than that. If so when you apply here tell Roy that you want less to save us money.
3. Equipment - Ambulances for example. Mr. Barrett says he and his son have vehicles that have very high milage and are running strong. Mr. Barrett, Do you sir have an intrest in coming and looking at our units? You will see that they are very well maintained but new units would be nice so that if you or your family or friends will not be on the side of the road broken down instead of moving toward the hospital. Preventive maintenance is what keeps us going so strong now. Costs would go down if we had a warranty to back up on instead of relying on a mechanic.
4. Unhappy staff - The last time I read the employee handbook is had in it a clause. Employment is willful and can be terminated at anytime by either party. If it is so bad why don't they leave?
Please no disrespect intended but that is how I see it.
Thanks,
Concerned medic......
Like I said no name here due to other employees being pulled through the mud. I don't have any skeletons but I also don't beleive a word about Lawrence County's HR director calling Caroline either. If that is true confidentality is broken and a lawsuit could follow. So if lying is what is being done I would "fess" up and tell the truth.
No disrespect intended but you certainly could not tell that you have two degrees and working on a third from your statements which border on incoherent. You might try asking around about what other people in this county are making before you claim over $15.00 an hour is a small amount especially when you consider what you make in overtime.
Mr. Barrett isn't the only one in this county with high mileage on his vehicle my truck has over 160,000 miles. A new truck would be nice but I simply can't afford one and neither can the county afford new ambulances just because they have high mileages.
You speak of the budget showing that the ambulance department is making money, I for one would certainly like to know how you arrived at that conclusion. You certainly could not consider the uncollected debts and seen any thing resembling income exceeding out go. Perhaps if you can't make ends meet on the amount you make you should consider working on a degree in economics then you would be better able to understand the ambulance budget and hopefully make one for your personal use.
To Concerned Medic.
You seem to have a problem with me but don’t seem willing to address it directly or candidly. Instead you make reference to me or write accusations about me that are completely false or based on inaccurate conclusions. I would be more than happy to answer anything you have to ask or as one of your more responsible co-workers suggested we sit down and simply talk. No one has called yet but I am still open. So there will be no misunderstanding I’ll only attempt to address those things you have attached to sentences with my name in them.
You state, “I also think Mr. Barrett needs to gather more info on EMS before he makes any suggestions on what he thinks is right for us. It's hard to make a decision when you haven't walked a mile in any EMS provider's shoes. No disrespect intended but instead on disageeing on many things pick your battles one at a time, become informed and then you "blow the whistle".
First of all I haven’t made any suggestion or recommendation as to what I think is “right for you” or your co-workers. What I have suggested is what I think is right for the county and the total citizenry. I am well aware of both the physical and emotional strain placed on those responding to emergencies and have said so publicly on a number of occasions as your Director can confirm. I’m not sure you meant to say, “It's hard to make a decision when you haven't walked a mile in any EMS provider's shoes”. If you meant to say “it’s not hard” then I would refer you to my post on 26 March at 10:08 of this same thread. As for your suggestion about picking your battles I fully agree and do this as often as possible. If it seems that I have a number of different subjects that I am involved with it is the result of having an ambidextrous mind thus with both sides of my brain engaged I’m able to do more than one thing at a time. No disrespect intended but I would suggest if you must speak of being “very well educated with two degrees and working on a third now”, you might consider proof reading your post a bit more carefully.
You state, “Mr. Barrett says he and his son have vehicles that have very high milage and are running strong. Mr. Barrett, Do you sir have an intrest in coming and looking at our units? You will see that they are very well maintained but new units would be nice so that if you or your family or friends will not be on the side of the road broken down instead of moving toward the hospital. Preventive maintenance is what keeps us going so strong now. Costs would go down if we had a warranty to back up on instead of relying on a mechanic.
I have no doubt that there are many people in the county that have vehicles with more than a hundred thousand miles on them. I don’t feel it necessary to go and look at the equipment when the Director is the one making the statement that the ambulances need to be replaced with new ones because the older ones have over a 100,000 miles on them, I can take his word for it. My position is, just because a vehicle has high mileage doesn’t mean it necessarily has to be replaced. I’m sure “new units would be nice” I simply don’t believe the county should go deeper in debt to purchase new units because it would be “nice” instead of necessary especially when there are so many more urgent needs the county is faced with. Preventive maintenance is a necessity whether the units have a hundred thousand miles or a hundred miles on them. There is much that a warranty does not cover. The Director spoke of the Ford Diesels being a major drain on the service. These units are among the newer units with lower miles but are desired to be replaced. Also based on the Director’s statements the units desired to be replaced would be kept in service as backups. This would mean that new boxes would have to be purchased instead of changing them from the old to the new vehicles. Most people understand that a vehicle that is not used often will deteriorate at a much faster pace than on used daily.
Now if you have an interest in discussing any of these things further I would be glad to do so, but I hope this will help you refrain from making false and erroneous accusations about me. Allen Barrett
Lots of information in the last few weeks. I have not been following things. I will reply to numerous questions posed to me personally and also stick in my two cents worth on other issues. STAY TUNED... MORE TO FOLLOW
Scott S.
Thank you Mr. Barrett for your close observation of my post. I did not know that when I posted an argument that my writing style would be attacked,above all, I thought my belief or post would be. I see that you addressed the ambulance aspect of my post and that's it. Thank you for your suppport and thinking about the emotional and physical strain on EMS providers. If the county has so many other things that it can't afford like an ambulance maybe, just maybe, it could skip an occasional dump truck or patrol car? Maybe some of the money it is going to spend on the park could be used to the ambulance service benefit?
I'm glad to see that you are interested in our ambulance service, but if you can't show up and admire what we are doing. Why do you expect one of us to come talk to you? You are doing the same that most commisioners are doing. If any event is going on at the service only a few show up! Only a few take an active interest in this place. How do you know what is being done if you can't take the time to visit? I know that you are not a commisioner, but since you have chosen your battle then come on over....Just some FYI here..EMS week is May 18-24,2008. It's a national week for EMS providers,not a Giles Co. thing.
Is it feasable to be driving an ambulance with over 200,000 miles on it? What about almost 300,000 miles on it? These engines are ran hard and have a lot of stop and go trips. Something to think about!
Concerned medic.......
As I said, it has been a while since I have been able to read any of this blog site. Yep, I do have an opinion. I am going to have to go back to the post from 4-03-08 in order to get cought up. I will reply to items in some order so I can get back into things. I will make every effort to pass along information as I know it to be true. I am not trying to hurt feelings, but I do know that folks may disagree with me and that I entertain. First off to ANON 4-3-08, thank you for the compliment. I do not know if me being there would have made any difference in how things are run though. I assure you that Roy knows what he is doing. I have all the confidence in the world in him. There are county officials in place that are making progress difficult and that would be the same regardless of who is in charge. But, none the less, progress has been made. Response times are shorter now than when they were 16 years ago when I started. Again thank you for your confidence in me, that means a great deal. I will attempt to honestly and fairly answer questions and make comments..
*** but you know as well as i do all the wrong that is going on there.****
Not sure what specific things to what you are referring. I am back here part time. We have awesome standing orders that are second to none. They are aggressive and the medical director allows us to perform as we see fit. That is rare in this area. I enjoy coming back and treating folks that I grew up with and know. I will respond to questions made by Caroline as to why I left before, but coming back was and is refreshing.
*** tell me why is there a secretary there making more than 30,000 a year to really do nothing? ***
Again I do not know everything that goes on here, treating my patients is my stress relief. But your 30,000 figure is high by almost 30%. As far as doing nothing, my experience here at the office sees a multitude of tasks being done. One of which is answering questions to the new office across town when simple abbreviations are misunderstood. An office that is currently 80 some odd days behind on the billing cycle. Just FYI, medicare will only allow a certain amount of time for claims after services rendered until they are not responsible. I do not know a lot about the budget office, but what I see is that it’s intended target, which looks like the school system, accidentally absorbed the EMS office. It is almost, if not impossible, not to have a billing analyst at the EMS station. No one surrounding completely outsources that. Check Williamson, Maury, Marshall, and even Rutherford. Both a mixture of hospital based and County governed services. All with billing offices within immediate and in person reach of EMS administration.
There may be a collective improvement with the entire county going to a system such as this one at the annex building, I do not dwell in county affairs enough to see this. I do not really think that it has helped EMS all that much. I am part time, I am not there on a regular basis, I get a letter (stamp 1 plus envelope) mailed to my house for me to sign my time sheet, It has included in it a stamped envelope (stamp and envelope number 2) just to get my signature. This, even though small, seems like a waist to me. The book keeping process has become more complicated that it should be. In the long run, the EMS department has not benefited.
*** why does roy let her and one of the supervisors run the place?***
This does not happen. I answer to the supervisor and director for my daily actions not the secretary. The supervisor plays a role in running the place, that is what managers do..
*** a supervisor of which no one wants to work for. from what i been told he can't even fill his shift with part time that makes 15 an hour or better 22 an hour. *
I work primarily on C shift and A shift. I have NO problems. I do my job, get paid, go home. There are times that there is not a full paramedic coverage on every ambulance on ALL shifts. I do not think that will be disputed, but I can’t work every day and neither can the other employees. I do not think that there is any mandatory overtime anymore. It’s not because I can’t get along with management. Your statement here seems prejudiced and personal. It is not because of one person. I think that is more hurt feelings coming out. Also, I have yet to make OT as a part time medic so my hourly rate is LESS than the OT rate from a full time staff member.
*** exactly what is a supervisors job there? would you please tell me.***
As a former supervisor in Maury and Williamson counties, I know this one. Numerous duties. Scheduling, ordering supplies, making sure out stations have needed equipment, directing ambulance traffic as far as who goes on all calls, handling complaints, assuring that paperwork is in the proper order for both quality and billing. Respond to calls as needed and staff the ambulance on occasion. They are a resource to units in the field. Coroner cases and all deaths in the county which are usually lengthy up to several hours. Any other duties assigned by the director. Why should someone who has been doing this almost 30 years get on the ambulance with a 1 year paramedic. I actually want to look forward to not running calls another 14 years. Not burned out, just want to redirect my energy.
Again ANON, thanks for your confidence in me, I don’t know for sure who you are, but thank you all the same.
In reply to Caroline’s comments. First off, I am so sorry you had a bad experience regardless of how it transpired or the details therein, it was bad for you. I am truly sorry. I see folks who love this vocation and it does upset me when things go wrong. Trust me, it probably won’t be the last time unfortunately. I am humbled that you credit me with how you think and about this profession. I would like to take this opportunity to respond to some of your comments, not to necessarily make things right, but give you my perception. I have always been honest with you, and tried not to sugar coat things, so don’t take offense; reply here or call me if you have questions. My numbers are still the same.
*** you assured me that I was more than tough enough to hang with the “Old Boys Club!” ***
I do remember conversations with you although I do not remember exact words as you refer to here. I distinctly remember you using the word “Green” all the time even though I knew you were not. Budget issues here at Giles prevent double paramedic crews. I am sure that this is not the only reason, as I will mention some here in a minute, but that is one. I knew you were tough enough to be a free thinker, you would be with an EMT, not another medic, and would have to rely on yourself. My words were both encouraging and truthful but I did not mean there was some hidden agenda or top secret society here at GCEMS. I knew, from experience, that when you got your license, you would be “DA MAN” sort to speak. Each and every time you went on a call. I have come to realize that there are a few at GCEMS that have been around a while. Some 25 to 30 years. There is something to be said about devoting your life to this work. My attitude has changed dramatically in the last 16 years. I now am not influenced by others like I was back then. So I am now an Old Boy, there are few in my club..lol…
*** I learned to be my patients biggest advocate because many over there are not and you know that***
This is not just a Giles County problem, but an EMS problem. I see it EVERYWHERE. I know what you are talking about, but I just didn’t want it to seem as if GCEMS was all bad. I only work with a select few here, I have learned though that everyone is subject to mistakes. Bad attitudes exist everywhere. I try to correct those through educating and not pointing fingers. I stood by for years and watched Columbia State struggle. It is taking shape again, and I am finally going back to teach again. Hopefully I can touch another as I apparently did you. ALWAYS stand up for your patients.
*** mandatory overtime ***
When I was employed here in 1992, I was 24 on 24 off. We had mandatory OT then. Now it was handled a little differently then, considering we were on for three days straight in the event of a call in. There were also no part time employees either. We were paid overtime for the 24 hours. Was it inconvenient, yep, but we did it since we knew about it. Now I was not here when there was a shortage of employees, and I don’t know why or how the list worked after I left. So I really cant offer any reasoning for or against it other than it was in place well before I started there 16 yrs ago.
*** Facts are no TnCare contract was signed***
In my previous posts I think I let it out how I felt about the tenncare thing. It ultimately forces us to give services away, which on paper, shows a tremendous loss. I disagree with the overtime issue. I do not know the pay rates of the full time medics here. I know mine. 15.60 for part time. Heck, I guess readers of this blog know. But back to full time, lets say they make $11.00 per hour. OT rate is 16.50. that is more than I get if I work the time. Plus the full time employee gets a retirement that is based on yearly salary and insurance, (family rates are outrageous) but individual coverage is free. So, as I see it, cutting the tenncare contract prevents us from loosing money and the part timers do NOT increase monies paid out. Also, GCEMS does not leave patients stranded as it is seemingly presented, I have ran calls here knowing it was a freebie, just to assure that the patients get to where they need to be. You make mention that the standards are the same from private to county, well honestly it doesn’t matter then who takes the patients as long as they are cared for, by not signing a contract keeps us from loosing money, but at the same time if another service cannot or will not transport someone, we will do it.
*** We NEVER and I mean NEVER ask our patients if they have insurance ****
Your service will fold without gathering this information. This is how all medical services get a majority of their reimbursement. Patient care is primary but we have to be stewards of our business and make sure that we get what is coming to us. There is someone in your company that is getting this onformation and making to proper claims to insurance companies. The patients have already paid for insurance. I pay for mine. I WANT to give the provider my insurance information so I am not out any more out of pocket that I have to be. They are not out any more money if we ask them for insurance information. They will get the needed service, despite who does it.
Outstations killing taxpayers… How????
*** Scott where were you the three years I was there? ***
I left here to pursue opportunities that were not available to me back in the early nineties. Since leaving, I have got into EMS management working on my BS in healthcare administration, I teach American Heart classes (ACLS, PALS, CPR) and am teaching the paramedic classes again at Columbia State. I am researching issues that may affect the entire state. I don’t know if I would have been able to accomplish that while a full time employee here, at the time I didn’t think so, so I did leave. Money has never really driven me either. As you can see, Roy becoming director did not cause me to leave. He deserved that job. You talk about fighting for what you believe in, get Roy to tell you about when he got his IV therapy. He was told point blank NOT to start one in a Giles County Ambulance. Same goes when he got his paramedic license, the first in the county by the way. He had to push and push to get ALS in this county. So yeah, I will support him. I am glad he is in the position because I know, with past experience, that he will fight to get what GCEMS needs.
*** not a week goes by that someone that has to deal with personnel from there begging me to keep fighting because people of the county deserve so much better***
Better what? Fight for what? I honestly do not know. Not being a smart ellick.
Again Caroline, I am sorry that there are events that I am sure that have transpired that have apparently burnt some bridges. I don’t know what they are and I am not asking. I have my own opinions as to how things are here. I am not trying to bid for the head job by any means. I am wanting to assist those who question the direction this place is headed. It is better now than it used to be I assure you. (again of others feel differently they need to speak up instead of using you for their shield).
I still have more comments on more posts.. but I will let my eyes and yours rest a bit.. Still more to come…Stay tuned !!!
Scott Storey
how long are we to stay tuned? this has to be one very long commerical break.
Scott what are you waiting for if you got somethng to say say it. Otherwise don't make promises you can't keep.
Hello All
To ANON Friday, May 02, 2008 9:50:00 AM
I am not making promises I cannot keep. I simply do not have time to put my thoughts on here in a timely manner. But I am pleased that you need to wait on me in order to formulate your own thoughts.
**** I have no doubt that there are many people in the county that have vehicles with more than a hundred thousand miles on them ***
Yet these folks are not answering emergency calls and driving these vehicles in this manner ALL of the time. I am not suggesting recklessness in the driving, but there is a certain use that normal driving does not pose on passenger vehicles. There is no comparison to emergency vehicles and your ordinary passenger car.
**** just because a vehicle has high mileage doesn’t mean it necessarily has to be replaced ***
300,000 miles in a van ambulance. That is excessive. And it does not have reliability anymore. Our business, due to it's nature, needs to be proactive both in our equipment and in our education. We do not need to wait until the vehicles or the training are not useful. Then it is too late. The state is looking into mandating primary units not to excede certain mileage, when this goes into effect the cost will be huge.
*** Preventive maintenance is a necessity whether the units have a hundred thousand miles or a hundred miles on them ***
Yep you are right to an extent. But preventive maintenance is not what we are really speaking about. It is the unexpected problems that surface due to the vehicles wearing out. And a far as the mileage is concerned the state requires more frequent mechanical inspections after the vehicles reach a certain mileage.
*** The Director spoke of the Ford Diesels being a major drain on the service ***
FORD Motor Company has changed it's business practices and have actually left or are leaving the ambulance manufacturing behind. There was a huge issue with the 7.0 turbo diesel. Most ambulance services have changed to a chevy product. I know Maury and Williamson has.
*** Also based on the Director’s statements the units desired to be replaced would be kept in service as backups. This would mean that new boxes would have to be purchased instead of changing them from the old to the new vehicles***
The cost in remounting vs. a new one is not as much as you let on. When there is a remount the inside of the unit is gutted and new cabinetry is installed. The outside is repainted and refurbushed. The savings is not all that. I personally do not know the exact costs but I have served on commities in the past that spec out this type of thing. I can try to find out the exact cost. Maybe i would be surprised, but i doubt it.
*** Most people understand that a vehicle that is not used often will deteriorate at a much faster pace than on used daily. ***
Again these vehicles are not your passenger vehicles. They ARE checked and started every day. We keep a daily check here at GCEMS, the state requires only every 72 hours. So they are not sitting idly by in a field somewhere. They ARE used, they ARE checked. They are not getting the daily use and abuse that occurs in a frontline vehicle. This will make the unit last longer, not the opposite as you suggest.
Anyway, I think this is all I see here. We are getting one new vehicle i hear. Thanks to those who made that possible. I am looking forward to replies. My comments are not shots back at any individual. Just comments. Have a safe week. Buckel up!!!!!!!
Scott S
Guess what the new $110,000.00 ambulance is..... none other than a used Ford diesel do we know how to make a deal or what.
Anon....
this new unit has a different engine than the older ones..it is a 6.0 liter turbo i think..the problems lied with the 7.3. And I will be shocked that it costs that much.... Maybe after it is stocked with equipment but not the cost of the vehicle itself...
scott
and as far as used goes... uh i think 2000 miles.... not a clunker...
ss
I was at the budget meeting when the new ambulance was approved and the cost stated and authorized was $111,550.00 for a Ford diesel from Smokey Mountain Ambulance Company.
The vehicle is a demonstrator and could not be delivered until after it's current round of being displayed. There will be more than 2000 miles on it unless it is being trucked to various destinations instead of driven. The statement was made at the meeting by Mr. Griggs that the box would last through three chassis. Allen Barrett
Scott, I believe you have your engine types backwards. The 7.3 liter is one of the best ever used.The 6.0 is junk.Thats why there have been so many problems for the past several years.Next years model will have a new 6.3 liter. With all the problems with the present engine, it would be crazy to buy another unit with it. There must be something wrong with this new unit or it would not still be in stock as a demo. W.A.B
can you answer this- what happened to the bidding process? This is not an emergency purchase.
Bidding, why would anyone let a little thing like bidding a contract get in the way of anything. The school system gives hundreds of thousands of dollars to Alsup insurance each year and there's no bid. Of course there's the kick back. There is no concern for following the rules, when they are inconvenient just cast them aside. Rules seem to only be in place to placate the public anyway.
When the truth is inconvenient just lie it don't matter because the public isn't concerned and there'll be something else to fool them with by the time they catch on to the current scam. If I sound a bit
pessimistic and cynical maybe I am, I think at this moment I've earned that privilege. Allen Barrett
WAB
You have hit the nail right on the head, Thanks
wab..
Do you ever tire of calling people liars and such? Apparently not. And where do you get off saying you have "earned" the right to be pessimistic and cynical? Oh, let me guess. If you were in charge of things, you would have a totally different outlook. Isn't that what you really meant to say?
To anonymous of the 1:38 post.
If I had meant to say something different I would have said it.
If you want to quote me in your response please at least use the correct statement but why would anyone expect you to do the right thing.
What I said was, "If I sound a bit pessimistic and cynical maybe I am, I think at this moment I've earned that privilege".
The reason I stated I had earned the right to "sound a bit"
pessimistic and cynical, was due to dealing with some people of low character and watch as spineless jelly-fish like you defend their disgustingly unscrupulous and dishonorable behavior. So you just go ahead and sit there whining about what a horrible person I am for calling a liar a liar, someday you may wake up and take a little responsibility for your life and the benefits you have been given but I doubt it, you're just too good of a whiner. Allen Barrett
Why do people get upset about the ambulance purchase? Do you not want you family or friends to get to the hospital in safe and speedy manner? I suppose Mr. Barrett would have us in plain vans or a pick up truck. Let's just load up our pts in a pick up truck bed and take them to the hospital.
Medic
There must be something wrong with this new unit or it would not still be in stock as a demo. W.A.B
Ambulance manufacturers make ambulances and take them around to promote their product. I have used demos in williamson county from excellance and there was nothing wrong with it. Demos are a good buy if the service buying them can adapt to not getting the patient care compartment arranged to their specifications, or make it match exactly what they already have. There is a significant price decrease, usually a few thousand dollars. The demos are solid units, not junk or secon hand pieces of equipment.
As far as I am concerned this should be an emergency purchase but I think that a bidding process will have to take place first. I could be wrong.
I was wrong about the purchase price i guess. Its been a while since I have actively been involved with the purchase process. Sorry for that misinformation. Take care all..
Scott
To "medic" this is not about a speedy delivery system or about efficient services rendered. It is about getting the most for the money and simply following the rules that have been established. Would you suggest that you as a medic preform brain surgery on a patient even if you had a full knowledge of the brain? I doubt that you would even attempt such a thing because there are some very clear cut and appropriate rules against such a thing. Purchasing an ambulance at any price above $10,000.00 and in any condition is simply against the rules of the state and the county. Those rules by the way are called laws.
To Scott, I did not say, "There must be something wrong with this new unit or it would not still be in stock as a demo. W.A.B". As far as I know it may be the best ambulance ever built.
My objection to the new ambulance had nothing to do with what kind it was, except to ask for a clarification on how it differed from the Ford that had been such a problem. My problem was in how they went about approving the purchase.
Clearly this could not qualify under any legitimate guidelines as an emergency purchase and to set or continue a precedent of spending over a hundred thousand dollars without even a competitive bid seems to me a very bad idea and certainly not good business. Allen Barrett
Clearly this could not qualify under any legitimate guidelines as an emergency purchase...
With all due respect you need to come and ride at the outstations where the older units are in service. There are several things that I could point out to you. The reason that they are worn is not because that haven't been taken care of either. They are USED UP.
Purchasing an ambulance at any price above $10,000.00 and in any condition is simply against the rules of the state and the county.
Never heard of this rule. I am assuming that your amount is a typo as well. It may be a county thing but I dont think it's a state thing. Our ambulances at Williamson were exceeding of 100,000. Where is this written as law?
**** continue a precedent of spending over a hundred thousand dollars without even a competitive bid seems to me a very bad idea and certainly not good business****
Find one cheaper that fits what we need then. Don't sit behind a keyboard and gripe about a situation, offer a solution, that would be progress. I think that the director knows a good deal. How many ambulances have you been through in the last several years? Now I will respect your past and I appreciate what you have done in the medical military service, but this is civilian use and civilian practice. You are not the expert in ambulance purchase. You do not have to guard every penny. There are good people in this county that can make honest purchases and KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. I honetsly am not trying to stir up anything here but it looks like you are just meddleing here and trying to cause trouble. It does not seem as if you are trying to be productive here. Just how I feel. I am sure you will correct me...Have a great week...
Scott
To Scott, as I said before the issue is not about the ambulance or whether it is needed or not needed. The law requires most any purchase by the county to be done on a competitive bid. If you check with Williamson County you will see that the same rule applies there unless it's the former $5,000.00 amount. Giles just recently raised the amount to the highest level allowed by law.
I never presented myself as an ambulance expert but as I said this isn't about the ambulance it’s about the purchase process.
You say, “Find one cheaper that fits what we need then. Don't sit behind a keyboard and gripe about a situation, offer a solution, that would be progress.”
The very reason you have a competitive bid process is so the best and cheapest product can be purchased. As for a solution I would be very content to not write another word or attend another meeting if there was some assurance some of those in charge would stop their underhanded activities.
You say, “You do not have to guard every penny. There are good people in this county that can make honest purchases and KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.”
You are very wrong about guarding every penny when you consider that after they spend all their pennies (by the way a penny in the tax base is worth over $40,000.00) they come after more pennies from mine and your pockets. If you want them to have your pennies they take donations as for me I’d like to keep what I earn.
You are absolutely right there are good honest people in this county trying to do their jobs the correct way and take a lot of pride in themselves and their performance. Unfortunately there are also a lot of very unscrupulous characters with very low character in positions of authority. It’s not the good teachers that have destroyed the education system, it’s not the good political figures that have perverted the government, it’s not the good citizen that has broken our liberty, it is not the good medic that has put the ambulance system in jeopardy but the silence of these good people have made major contributions to our demise by enabling the bad folks to do as they please.
Allen Barrett
wab..
Low character,disgustingly unscrupulous and dishonorable, and spineless jellyfish like me? Are you attempting to describe my behavior or are you again resorting to the same old name-calling and smearing. The latter is apparently the case. I remind you that your behavior is woefully unbecoming of a minister.
And you almost hit the nail on the head when you accused me of seeing you as a horrible person. I only see your behavior as horrible.
Hey dumbo, you can't really be that dumb to totally misunderstand everything you read or have read to you.
One of the problems with ministers today is they are scared to death of offending someone so the pussy-foot around and allow wrong behavior to be identify as right behavior.
Why don't you go to the doctor and get a shot of intelligence you would be amazed what it would do for your understanding and thinking. If you have as I suspect an allergy to intelligence and can't take the shot maybe they can do some surgery and get your head out of your rearend.
anonymous..
I just listed some of the things your hero said about me. And you can't see it as name-calling, smearing, and unbecoming behavior of a "man of God?" Then you have the audacity to call me dumbo. Laughable, indeed!
I would say spineless and unscrupulous just about describes you. You attack someone, but you haven't the nerve to sign your name.
anonymous..
Look, we have discussed (practically to death) this idea of signing ones name, and you are surely smart enough to realize that some people cannot sign their posts. I don't see what's so hard to understand about that. By the way, signing one's name doesn't make one necessarily brave. Some people are just so into self that they crave all the attention they can get. And I think you and I both know of just such a person, don't we? I'm reminded of an old saying that goes something like this: Fools'names, like fools' faces, oft appear in public places. And no, I was not calling your hero a fool.
Well I think that we need to step back and look at this situation. I for one, would like to congratulate Mr. Barrett for being a minister. I too, am a moan of God. You choice in spreading God's word is a wonderful and fulfilling life. I am not a minister but I do other things in the church. I am also a paramedic and would like to address some of the things that you speak of. I do not work at Giles Co. EMS but I am watching from a distance.
1. It seems like all of the comments made to the ambulance service are negative. Why is that? Are there any good things about this service? Did you go by and give these men and women a thanks for what they do? This is EMS week.
2. I also have heard from a source that you question protocols on which the ambulance service operates. I heard you question the energy at which we "shock" someone?
I have read a post about getting an education and learning about what we do. I commend you on asking questions and starting on this. Here are some sites to look at www.skilstat.com, www.acls.net and www.paramedicine.com. This might help you.
3. I am thinking of applying to GCEMS and your comments above all detour me everytime. Is it that bad? If I'm seeing this I know other people are. I am sure there are a few slots open for hire there. I bet some one else probably has the same feelings I do.
Mr. Barrett,
Could you please clarify these questions and why you are against what is there?
Christian EMS'r
Man of God.....Sorry!!!!
Christian EMS'r
To Christian EMS'r
I don't believe the ambulance service is a total flop nor do I think it is a perfect organization. It is like most everywhere else, some good and some bad. I do not know enough about it personally to say it is more bad than good or vice versa. I have simply tried to ask some questions about certain situations and practices and have met with mostly negative personal attacks and a stone wall.
It's like the recent purchase of an ambulance for approximately $111,000.00. My question was and is how was this approved for purchase without any competitive bidding?
Another matter is being told that some ambulances have over a hundred thousand miles and therefore "all" the ambulances need to be replaced.
As I have said before my biggest problem is not in what's being done as much as the process they are using to justify it. If everything is open and above board it shouldn't be difficult to explain things when they are questioned and justify activities. Allen Barrett
Mr. Barrett,
Thank you for your answer.
Christian EMS'r
Christian EMS'r
Come by and check out the service. See if it is where you would like to work. We have great standing orders and decent equipment inside the units to provide care. The Director is a very caring man and wants to forward this place into the future. Some of the problems are the politics involved as with many things that involve public money. But the service is great. See it first hand..
TO others...
Two questions...
IS 300,000 miles on two primary ALS units too high?
Who should create specs for ambulances on the bidding process?
I have personally seen specs and most ambulance manufacturers can claim that they are detailed. Several pages... You do not want to miss detail that could ultimately effect patient care. I am just curious that who in their right mind would create a 1 page spec that could alost equate to buying a new pickup? Oh by the way.. The duramax engine really limits manufacturers doesn't it? Is this how the other emergency agencies are going to have their specs laid out? Again just curious...
Scott
Here are some simple questions that should help cut through all the rhetoric about the ambulance purchase and a number of other very questionable purchases by the school system and the county.
Does the state and county require a competitive bid process on the purchase of vehicles, services, etc. over a certain amount? Was this bid process implemented into the process of purchasing the most recent ambulance added to the ambulance fleet? If it was not then why wasn’t it?
Allen Barrett
My questions were ignored.. Imagine that.
Scott
I’m sorry if you felt I ignored your questions, I realize they were not addressed to me specifically and accepted that because of the nature of your questions that I could basically agree with you and go on to the weightier issue.
Your 1st question was “IS 300,000 miles on two primary ALS units too high?” Yes I would agree that is very high mileage but that is not what the director used to stress his need for new ambulances in the meetings I attended. His statement was that an ambulance had over 100,000 miles and should be replaced. When he was questioned more specifically the matter of an ambulance with 300,000 miles was still not discussed instead he focused on the Ford diesel that had caused many problems and need to be replaced even though it was one of the newer ambulances.
Your 2nd question was “Who should create specs for ambulances on the bidding process?” That also was, I thought, generally accepted response that the head of the using agency with input from their staff would know more about what their needs were than would someone outside the agency. So basically I would agree the director of the ambulance service would be the most appropriate one to draw up the specs he required for his ambulances. I see no problem with that as long as it is done within the law. There have been instances in Giles County where specs were written to fit a single vehicle including the exact mileage. The specs do not and should not be too exacting, so that as many competing bids as possible can be obtained, yet they should cover all the required essentials.
Your 3rd question was “The duramax engine really limits manufacturers doesn't it? Is this how the other emergency agencies are going to have their specs laid out?” In some instances the requirement for a “duramax” engine would violate the intent of the law by severally limiting the number of bidders. There could be several different companies using the “duramax” engine but building a better box than their competitor thus more than one potential bidder.
Now since I have tried to answer your questions how about answering mine in my 9:03 post.
Scott,
Thank you for being kind and you are the reason I have such a passion for this job, and you were correct when you said I would become tougher by being here I did. I have not lied nor have I called people names, I have been accused of it but it was not nor ever has been me.
As for Roy I have always thought his job was incredibly hard but he has hard time fighting for and through all the bull. As for being a mole I never was and I have a plant there whomever you are I wish I did have that 007 thing but I am so sorry I do not.
Now to amon in above post that I should fired from my present postion if you feel that is the case then I will more then willing give you my directors name and also my regional managers name and numbers. Why would you be as heartless and cruel as you are? I have never wanted a person here to lose there job and I still hold many in high regard there and that includes Roy Griggs.
I am glad to hear from these posts things are so much better for all those at the amb service and I hope it continues to improve it sounds like many high caliper medics and emt's are there now and that does make me happy.
You are right I left after three years I no longer had the strength to fight a battle or a war that I would never win, I wish only the best to those who take care of us for little money and no praise and congratulations to all that is going so well there now.
Caroline
Why would they want purchase another ford when they have had so many problems out of the two that they have already purchased? I agree that they do need dependable units, but the drain on this county is felt everywhere... We need others to protect this county why is the sheriffs dept not in such a bad position as is the ambulance service? Do we not need them too? The cost and uninhibited spending there is going to start effecting other agencies maybe we need to think about that and sell the damn thing to someone who knows how to effectively handle an ambulance service!!! For God's sake people wake up and smell the coffee, we do not have staff for these ambulances and by no means can we afford to pay the part time pay for that place while they drain the counties monies. I do not want to hear everyone on this blog whining and crying that why are there no deputies when they need one!!! Just some food for thought.
wake up and smell the coffee the ambulances are staffed fully everyday. where have you been? under a rock? just who do you want to sell it to? you wanna make an offer? maybe you could run it better!
Yea sure they are are so that is what we are being feed whatever and we both know that they are not always staffed with paramedics. Then you brow beat former employees I think it makes you feel superior. I see you as small!!! Ya sell the damn thing to some company and plug the hole that is sucking our budget dry!!!
yes lets sell it to rural metro like you want to! that would be alot better for giles county you moron! that way the county can still put money into it and not have a hand in it!
Talk about a moron 7:09 the only way the ambulance service would be sold and the county still have to pour money into it without any say would be if you or someone else with your mental handicap were to negotiate the sale. Over a million dollars a year, expectation of another quarter million to establish a branch at Minor Hill and still no Tenncare contract or efficient means of collecting or tracking unpaid debts.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous, May 29, 2008 12:39:00 PM:
Watch your language, please.
Thanks.
Well first of all, I think that if the ambulance service is sold that Giles County would have no control over what or where an ambulance is placed....Remember the Elkton station and the Richland station?? You can kiss those goodbye. No more quicker response times from the stations. Then you can think about coverage, when we have at least two to three units in county now, considering one is on a call, we may not have but one unit available because other units have been pulled to other counties due to a higher call volume. So you may or may not get one when you think you should. I know that some of you say that EMT's are on some units instead of paramedics. Paramedics may be on every unit but where is it coming from?? So again you look at the time issue. If any of you want to look and research ACLS (advanced cardiac life support), you will see time is muscle and the brain can go approx. 3 minutes without oxygen and time without oxygen to the heart you lose muscle. So you can see the time issue is really big. These are facts that are real and I am not pulling any strings or lying to try to scare any of you.
Now on to the units.....They might be brand new and then again might not be...What I'm trying to say is this. We talk about bidding and proper channels to go through for this and what it boils down to is we are trusting our loved ones and friends to the lowest bidder for what we want. The lowest price is good but is it about quality or quanity?? I bet most of you want the best. I know for a fact I do. We more than likely will get the hand me downs from another county so the company can keep the newer ones in service in a busier area. So in a nutshell we will be in a worse situation then due to units being down and out for maintenance. I know Giles Co. will not have a say in anything but who the contract goes to. Most reading this will beleive it will be a good deal until one of their friends or loved ones are waiting on a unit from another county or waiting on one because it broke down. Remember the time issue?? You can't really get away from it.
Some of you have stressed that you want local people on your units. Well from what I gather these people will be fired and rehired back at a lower rate than before. Some will not return due to wages. So if you think people will do this for free you can forget that. I bet you think they will know the way to your house if you give them an address. Try again!! They get lost before we do and we live and work in this county. Yes we do get lost too. We are human too! So tghe time issue is still at stke too!!! No escaping it! I also failed to mention staffing, if you think we are short now, try staffing a service when most of the people have quit or fired.
Just some FYI, I have worked for several private services and the grass may look greener on the other side but I doubt it will be so green after a few months here.
Something to think about.
Who has ever said anything about getting rural metro involved. That is a new one on me.It does however sound like an excellent idea to me. Just hope Roy doesnt hear about it because Im certain it would surely make him CRY.
If a person will die after three minutes or have severe heart or brain damage without breathing can you tell us approximately how far from each ambulance station three minutes is.
From the time 911 is called the staff gets into the ambulance starts and drives then stops and makes contact with the patient, how far can they safely go in three minutes. Clearly not more than just a few blocks. Seems that would mean unless you live next door to the ambulance you gonna die.
Good gawd takes longer then 3 minutes to dispatch and get unit into service. Fire all employees thats bullpoop and we all know it!!! You a right amonyomous lets just keep this parasite we call the ambulance service under county control until this county is bankrupt!!!! I bet you'll be the first in line going I just don't know why we did not sell it when we had the chance!!! As for rural metro it is evident you hate them I do not care if they sell it to joe blow uhaul as long as they can mange the place like it needs to be!!!
Good gawd takes longer then 3 minutes to dispatch and get unit into service. Fire all employees thats bullpoop and we all know it!!! You a right amonyomous lets just keep this parasite we call the ambulance service under county control until this county is bankrupt!!!! I bet you'll be the first in line going I just don't know why we did not sell it when we had the chance!!! As for rural metro it is evident you hate them I do not care if they sell it to joe blow uhaul as long as they can mange the place like it needs to be!!!
How would it need to be managed??? Are any of you a paramedic? Do you what it takes to run an ALS call? Do you even know what ALS means? Are you even an EMT-IV?
If you can answer these questions then we can talk!!!!!
Well it is Sunday and no answer to the above....I guess you had to research the answers......Well it takes more than research to do all of this,not just a few days to figure the answers out!!!!!
Just because you happen to be a good or even outstanding EMT, paramedic etc doesn't mean you have the ability to be a good administrator. Tony Stewart may be a great driver but stink as a mechanic.
Perhaps you should spend a little time doing more research before shooting off your mouth and looking so dumb.
I see that you still couldn't answer the questions that I asked....I'm not the one shooting off at the mouth. I only asked a few questions that no one has seemed to answer yet. All you could do was call names and insult the person asking them. That is what this county has become, people that are afraid to research and give a hypothesis on the answer to the problem. Name calling will not settle this issue niether will posting on this blog, but it does help voice an opinion.
I may not be the best paramedic in the world or the region for that matter. I know I am not. I know that I need several more years of experience to do the job that Roy Griggs does. He does a fantastic job from where I stand. If the commisioner's would let him do his job instead of brow beating him he could actually get something done. If you think that is not the case then tell me why did the commisioner's think that we only work 40 hours a week? It's 24/7 for any service that runs 911 calls. That is only one example and I know of more but that is for a different time. But really instead of calling names.....(mainly to the poster above)
Next time you feel like you have some insight on a post here, try to gain an understanding of what I am asking for and post it in a way that is presentable. I'm not shooting off at the mouth and I do support Roy in all his efforts at GCEMS.....
Sensitive, sensitive. First I did not call you any names I simply pointed out that being a good paramedic does not necessarilary translat into a good administrator.
As for working 40 hours a week that comment was made in reference to an individual work week, now if you are working 24/7 it's way past time to unionize. This is the problem you seem to have answering one question with an answer to a totally different question.
If you have ever seen Mr. Griggs underpressure you would never say he is "brow beat" by commissioners he breaks out the tears long before
there is any tuff questions much less brow beating.
I did not say we work 24/7. All ambulance services that provide ALS and 911 service sign an agreement to provide them 24/7. We work 24 hr. shifts then we are off for 48 hrs. Some of us work more than that due to the amount of money that we make. It makes for a rough time with family but due to rising costs of everything we have to do what we can to make ends meet. I am taking the side of the poster for June 11, 2008. If I didn't have another smaller part time job I would have to do that too.
Christian EMS'r
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