01/08/2014
Considering our last post I would like to give Kurt Steunkel credit for providing the following message at floydstraightforward.org.
It is very apparent that EMS is going change in this county. We will post more in the coming interning how EMS service in this county will never be to the level of excellence it is now.
EMS, Economics and the Quest for a Solution
Posted by Kurt Stuenkel, President and CEO
Jan. 8, 2014
Not long ago we sent an email to our Emergency Medical Services staff telling them that Floyd and Redmond are working together to look at how ambulance service is provided in Floyd, Polk and Chattooga counties. This has sparked a public discussion on Facebook and in the local news media about EMS service in our community. And, although we have taken steps and will continue to work to keep our EMS employees informed, questions have surfaced that I’d like to address.
Why are we contemplating doing something different with Floyd EMS? It is not because of any dissatisfaction with the level of service or care that is delivered. The unfortunate truth is that it is economics. You can cite Obamacare as a key reason. Health care is changing so rapidly and so dramatically that we must look for ways to do things more efficiently. Almost every month a government change comes forward that puts pressure on our revenues. If our hospital is to remain financially viable and continue to serve our community, we have no choice but to change with the times.
We are not alone in dealing with these obstacles. Just this week Paul Keckly wrote about the challenges that hospitals across the nation face in an article in Hospitals & Health Networks Daily. “Hospitals are labor-intense, capital-intense and highly regulated at state and federal levels,” he writes. “Lowering operating costs across this complex system while deploying capital to targeted opportunities is key to survival….It requires tough decisions about structure, people and process, efficient acquisition of capital and tough choices.”
So, when I was called by the President of Redmond, John Quinlivan, and asked if Floyd would be willing to consider a single provider for EMS services for our region, I said, “yes.” Floyd has a presence in two counties, Floyd and Polk. Redmond has services in Floyd, Polk, and Chattooga. One service that covers all three counties has the potential to be much more efficient. At Floyd, we bill for services, but the revenue does not cover the cost of the service. Redmond has the same issue. Our goal is to see if a single service for the region could operate at reduced expense while at the same time maintaining the very high level of service and professionalism.
Why have we engaged a third party, and why are we sending out requests for proposal? Quite simply, Floyd and Redmond are competitors. We need to have a third party involved to ensure objectivity. The RFP process is to see what other providers will propose.
I also want to address the assertion that Floyd receives financial assistance to subsidize EMS services and that we value financial concerns over patient interests. Neither of these is true. Floyd and Redmond are the operators and sole financial underwriters for EMS in Floyd, Polk and Chattooga counties. We bear the responsibility for operational expenses and for provision of services, and we receive no subsidy from any government entity to help pay for those services.
These are challenging times. There is no question that the health care industry is changing, and we have to change with it. But, the reason people choose a career in health care has not and will not change.
A wise mentor once said to me, “There is something special about people who work in hospitals–they really care, and that is why they choose health care.”
I have found this to be so very true. Whether you ask physicians, nurses, dieticians, therapists, housekeepers, plant facilities personnel or business office workers, I assure you they will all tell you this: Caring for people in need is why they are drawn to their work.
Nowhere is this more true than with the men and women in Emergency Medical Services. When that emergency call comes, medics are ready to do what it takes to respond, rescue, stabilize and get the patient to the next level of care, often risking their own health or safety.
Last month, one of our supervisors responded to a call and was first on the scene of an auto accident. The auto flipped over and slid down an embankment. This supervisor raced down the hill and thrust himself on his belly into the cabin of the vehicle to free a young child trapped in a car seat. The child was obviously injured and turning blue. Acting quickly, he freed the child, administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and revived her. After assistance arrived, the child was transported to Floyd’s Emergency Care Center (ECC) and ultimately to a Level I trauma center for treatment of her severe injuries. One of our ECC physicians said that this patient would not have survived without the heroic actions of our EMS supervisor.
These acts of heroism occur on a regular basis in EMS, and I am particularly proud of Floyd’s EMS. I love to see our green ambulances out and about, serving people throughout our region. We have won multiple state and regional awards for our service. I know that Redmond is proud of their service too.
Both Floyd and Redmond have been EMS providers for years–in Floyd’s case since 1966–and understand the importance of well-operating emergency medical services, and we are committed to that. It is important for all of us as residents of these counties. Together, Floyd and Redmond are going through a thorough process with expert help, and we will present our solution to the respective county commissions and the regional EMS council. Our own due diligence along with consultation with respective county governments and the regional EMS council will give the public assurance that quality services will be provided. Our intention is to have a decision in the next few months.
floydstraightforward.org
