OKCFD Now Hiring… for Ambulance Personnel

[Hollywood]

Interesting posts on social media today as OKCFD began hiring supervisors for their “Supplemental Transport Service” to augment EMSA during peak times. Initially hiring Field Supervisors followed by EMTs and Paramedics to run the four ambulances OKCFD acquired.

YouTube video: https://youtube.com/watch?v=BBGUwQ6XxrM&feature=sharea

Sure seems like a lot of work establishing a “supplemental” service. More like laying the groundwork to give EMSA the boot so citizens aren’t waiting an hour for a truck to arrive. With Edmond looking elsewhere and buying ambulances as well the next few years could spell the end for EMSA.

[gjl]

Warr Acres dumped EMSA several years ago. Bad thing is I'm only covered for a ride if I'm in Warr Acres when I need an ambulance by what I pay monthly on my WA garbage and sewer bill. If I need a ride outside of WA I have to buy coverage with EMSA separately. It's only about $60/year and registration is in September but I have found it impossible to sign up for it. The closest I've come is I actually spoke to someone on the phone last year that said they would mail me the paperwork to sign up but it never came in the mail. You can only sign up online if you reside in OKC.

[jn1780]

Interesting posts on social media today as OKCFD began hiring supervisors for their “Supplemental Transport Service” to augment EMSA during peak times. Initially hiring Field Supervisors followed by EMTs and Paramedics to run the four ambulances OKCFD acquired.

YouTube video: https://youtube.com/watch?v=BBGUwQ6XxrM&feature=sharea

Sure seems like a lot of work establishing a “supplemental” service. More like laying the groundwork to give EMSA the boot so citizens aren’t waiting an hour for a truck to arrive. With Edmond looking elsewhere and buying ambulances as well the next few years could spell the end for EMSA.

Yeah, it seems like OKC is dipping their toes in the water.

[AnguisHerba]

It's probably more a matter of "when" instead of "if" OKC drops EMSA. It's just going to be about timing and making the numbers work.

[Midtowner]

This is great. I'm tired of seing EMSA price gouging its patients. They are basically abusive and "your money or your life" situations should never be allowed to exist. I used to do personal injury work and routinely, the biggest lien holders wouldn't be medical providers who provided servicse over months, it was the ambulance service... and if mediflight was involved, it got ridiculous.

So good.. and in this case, socialism FTW.

[gjl]

When Warr Acres dumped them it was at the suggestion of their Fire Department who who was having issues working with them.

[Hollywood]

When Warr Acres dumped them it was at the suggestion of their Fire Department who who was having issues working with them.

Our dispatchers keep a log of EMSA times for just that purpose.

[Jersey Boss]

Way past time for this to be paid for with government revenues like cops and fire.

[ChrisHayes]

Replacing EMSA would be a very long process. I'm all for an OKCFD EMS, but building it out would be years long. It would require building a number of stand alone stations, hiring hundreds of personnel, buying millions of dollars worth of equipment, and who knows what else. I'm all for it, but if it does happen, it certainly won't happen over night.

[BoulderSooner]

Replacing EMSA would be a very long process. I'm all for an OKCFD EMS, but building it out would be years long. It would require building a number of stand alone stations, hiring hundreds of personnel, buying millions of dollars worth of equipment, and who knows what else. I'm all for it, but if it does happen, it certainly won't happen over night.

OKC owns most of the EMSA equipment


this is something Ed Shadid was 100% correct about ..

[NavySeabee]

OKC owns most of the EMSA equipment


this is something Ed Shadid was 100% correct about ..

The city also owns the land their new headquarters on Sooner Road is on. The fire department has told the city for years they could run EMS. They noted it’s going to be expensive to start it. Once it was started it would cost the same if not less. I think they would save money in the long run as rig would not be needed on every call and you would save fuel as fewer ambulances would be idling at various posts around the city. They could be parked at fire stations. The only places you would need posts is in outer lying areas or high call volume areas.

[BoulderSooner]

The city also owns the land their new headquarters on Sooner Road is on. The fire department has told the city for years they could run EMS. They noted it’s going to be expensive to start it. Once it was started it would cost the same if not less. I think they would save money in the long run as rig would not be needed on every call and you would save fuel as fewer ambulances would be idling at various posts around the city. They could be parked at fire stations. The only places you would need posts is in outer lying areas or high call volume areas.

yep .. this will be a little bit of a mess to start with but it is something that should happen