Hospital based vs Commercial

[MIKETM]

How about Hospital based EMS vs Commercial services? let me hear it. Any commercial folks out there got any input? Quality of the EMS from both sources?

[Reasonable Rascal]

Let's see. I've had one hospital based service close from under me, vs. 3 commercial services. That say anything? ;-)

MHO is that, properly run (required caveat there) a hospital service can/should offer the best all around for everyone involved. By properly run I mean they do what is best for the patient irregardless of where the requisite destination ought to be, etc.

When I directed a small rural hospital service I followed that philospohy. In the 10 years I was there we saw call volume increase to 350% of what it had been for several years previously. This was in no small part due to increasing public knowlege that we cared more about what was right for the patient than whether or not the base hospital was garnering as many ER fees as they could by inappropriate stopovers. In the end the service became a profit center rather than a drain, and had been so for several years.

I'll leave off here so that others may offer discussion. I could go on for a couple pages easily otherwise.

RR

[MIKETM]

wow, now ya got me worried about the dam service folding after 7 years. Too bad, I think this hospital based service is probably the best EMS I have seen delivered. Tha means I may have to go back to the city and that ain't pretty..........

[MIKETM]

Nope, just talked my way back into work for another couple years. YAHOOOO! Had to talk to the governing body in the area......

[outreachmedic]

I think hospital services are great and have many advantages over comercial. First, if the Medics are given freedom to participate in the ED it can add a whole nem dimension to the paramedic's experience making them more wellrounded. There is also the relationships and trust that is developed while working with the ED staff. What a great learning experience. I also think there are some definate finacial advantages for the hospital bases services as far as billing is concerned. I've worked at both and I like working in the hospital the best.