Officials want ambulance changes

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), May 14, 2002 | by Ed Sealover

Hoping to lower ambulance response times, El Paso County and Colorado Springs officials said Monday they want to amend an agreement governing area emergency services.

The public contract with ambulance company American Medical Response expires next year. The Emergency Services Agency, a board appointed by the city and county to oversee the contract, must decide whether to renegotiate with AMR or take bids on a contract that hasn't drawn interest from other companies.

County Commission and City Council members said they want to be able to approve the new contract before it goes into place. Neither group was allowed to do so when the contract was first signed in 1998.

Officials also asked members of the agency board to draw up new contract requirements that would speed ambulances more quickly to high-population areas. Many city leaders want AMR to respond to calls in six minutes within city boundaries, and county leaders want faster response times in densely populated regions.

County Commission Chairman Tom Huffman said if both goals can't be accomplished, he hopes the county's needs won't be sacrificed for the city's.

"I hope you'll see if new growth areas need better response time before giving the city six minutes," Huffman said.

City Council members suggested even more changes.

There was near-unanimous agreement at an informal meeting Monday that council members want to be able to audit the ambulance company to verify response times.

Several members also asked that the ambulance company reimburse the city for expenses it incurs for advanced life support. City first- responder crews often arrive at the scene before AMR ambulances and have to use drugs or equipment to begin helping a patient.

Councilwoman Sallie Clark said she wants to include in any new contract a clause that the ambulance company not send collection agencies after people who are late paying bills as quickly as AMR does now.

Clark also suggested she would be open to a contract that allows more than one ambulance company to take care of emergency services.

But Councilman Ted Eastburn bitterly opposed that suggestion, saying it puts revenue ahead of citizens' health and safety.

"I would fight to my political death to not have multiple companies out there," said Eastburn, a cardiologist. "To have competition over a vulnerable emergency population is like having ambulance chasers show up in the ER."

There also were suggestions to reform the emergency-services system. Councilwoman Margaret Radford said the city should look at having its Fire Department take callers to a hospital rather than relying on a private ambulance company. Councilman Jim Null suggested merging the city and county firefighting and dispatch systems.

Springs Fire Chief Manuel Navarro said he will discuss the information with the Emergency Services Agency board before coming back to the council and commission.

- Ed Sealover may be reached at 636-0184 and sealover@gazette.com