This would be a mistake, said George Oxenreider, an EMT-paramedic with Polk County Emergency Medical Services. He dropped off a written statement.
“I am not a politician or a businessman, but I do believe that privatization of our ambulance service by an outside organization is a bad idea,” Oxenreider said. “I do not believe the ‘pros’ will outweigh the ‘cons’ per se, if Floyd, Redmond or some other agency becomes the new ambulance provider in our county.”
There was no immediate comment available from Polk County government officials. County Manger Clinton Lester was out of the office this afternoon. Newspaper staff is seeking a response and will post those comments when they become available.
Oxenreider said that Polk County EMTs are concerned about the possible move to privatize what they feel is an efficient and effective service.
“As a citizen and employee of Polk County, I feel it is my duty to inform the people that our Polk County Board of Commissioners are considering extending a call for bids to area emergency medical service agencies for ambulance coverage in Polk County,” Oxenreider said.
“We have been told that as of right now all of these talks are currently “under the table” so as not to attract public attention,” he said. “So in short order your ambulance service could be privatized by an outside agency, taking away your voice and mine as to how these services are provided.”
Oxenreider added that he holds county commissioners "in the highest regard and understand that they have a tough job and have to make difficult choices."
However, he added, "this is one choice that we at Polk EMS will not stand by silently and watch unfold."
Please Vote "Squad51" Polk Ems Director!
If we can't keep Polk EMS, let's keep politics out of it and as BUZZ says:" might as well be Redmond!"
Floyd Medical Center has invested in Polk County because they want to CONTROL the medical business in Polk County not because they care. You mention-Desire, you're right, their desire is to use the EMS as a stepping stone to get to bigger things in Polk County and our commissioners either don't care or are trying to assist Floyd in their efforts.
You most likely would be one of the first on the band wagon to call the commissioners and complain if a Polk County ambulance was in ANY parade or at any event outside of this county.
These people I am referring to just might be good people but until our commissioners announce their decision and sign the contracts, we do not need to be force fed Floyd Medical Center EMS on the citizens and children of Polk County. The fact that they are on the school board and are using the schools to promote their agenda and place of employment does not sit well with me.
You say stick to the facts- Just what are the facts? The Polk County Commission seems to have forgotten who they serve and will not discuss the facts and we all know what the county manager's track history is on this issue. Do you know the true facts, are you close enough to one of the commissioners that you know the facts?
Maybe when election time rolls around for each and every one of these commissioners the citizens will remember that these commissioners would NOT tell the facts, would not discuss this issue and choose to keep the facts from the citizens.
Why did the Commission Chairman have to correct the county managers statements? Who in their great wisdom hatched the idea of ridding Polk County of their EMS service and talking to Floyd and Redmond and WHY? Lets get the TRUTHFUL answers to those questions if we can!
Floyd has invested in Polk County - they have physican practices in Polk County plus Urgent Care's in Cedartown, Rockmart and Taylorsville - they can promote Floyd here if they desire - whether in an ambulance, at a Christmas Parade, in a newspaper ad or during a visit to our schools. An ambulance is a rolling billboard and I am glad they care enough to come to the Polk events and into the schools. I have seen them around here long before this ever started. Actually, I see them here everyday.
The people you are referring to are good men and care about this community - yes they have children in our schools - yes they work at Floyd EMS - yes they give back to this community through service to their fellow citizens.
And yes - I have faith that they would take excellent care of my family and yours with professionalism and care if they arrived at our door in a Floyd ambulance.
Let's stick to the facts - not insinuations toward good people who give to this community.
What is the reason behind the commissioners actions? The MAJORITY will NOT have a say in the decision, the deed will be done by the commissioners not the citizens! What if the vote ends in a tie(2-2), will the chairman vote withfamily ties to Floyd Medical Center EMS? Guess we will have to see how that turns out!
In answer to your two ending questions- Will the commissioners truthfully answer the first question and will the citizens get a chance to answer the second question or has the answer already been decided by the commission and not told until the meeting on May 5th,2009.
If the majority believe that someone is not doing their job, then it is the majorities duty to vote in someone that will. There is always something that is said about it; the question is will you actually get out there and say it? Either you will or you will hide in your home/officer and complain after more decision you dislike are made.
Make a choice and stand up for what you believe in. Do not try and persuade people on an internet site, they most have no direct power over such things.
I will say this, if the majority did not want their ambulance service changed, then it would not change. Of course, that would depend on two factors: Can the county afford it and does the service provide for the needs of the community. If both questions are answered with a "yes", then nothing would change.
Redmond is a for-profit organization. This means that they divide their earnings to stockholders and other individuals/businesses with interest in their company. Non-profits or "not for profit" organizations must hold their earnings for future projects and may not be given to individuals or stockholders. Non-profits have to be successful to survive and continue to provide services that for-profits will not provide. If you cannot pay your bill(due to having no money, as opposed to be lazy or greedy), will Redmond write your bill off? No. Floyd will though.
Where has basic education and self-efficacy gone? This is the reason people tend to cause such problems. They are uninformed because they refuse to search out information for themselves.
Unless you have proof that Floyd is hiding money, which you do not, then do not make unsubstantiated claims you "heard from someone else". This, though, has nothing to do with the issue at hand. If Polk can save money by using an outside source for the EMT service, then by all means...do it.
I have family member that does work at the hospital, albeit at a very low level. Outside of that, I have no vested interest in Floyd's success or demise.
The terms "jumping on the band wagon" or "drinking the kool-aide" really does apply here. Do not feed on the populist ideals; come to decisions and make judgments on the facts you have in hand.
It does not take an intelligent person to figure that one out. This also is not about choosing between Floyd and Redmond. It is between either hospital in Rome and Polk Hospital. Polk has a horrible hospital and I would not wish their services to be rendered to the worst of people in this world.
As for your little scanner listening, you do not get most of the story. You do not know the exact reason for why the transport is switched. You are not present in the ambulance, you are only able to listen to most of the communication traffic with scanners.