Politics shouldn’t play role in EMS care

To the editor:
On behalf of concerned medical staff members, and as the medical director of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Aroostook Medical Center, I am writing to express my concern about the city of Presque Isle’s proposal to start an EMS service.     I personally work very closely with the local EMS providers. My role as the medical director of Crown Ambulance Service for the last eight years has afforded me the “insider perspective.” The men and women who work for Crown are highly skilled, hard-working individuals, who are among the best in the field in my opinion. We maintain a rigorous quality assessment program for our program. Additionally, because we in the ED work so closely with the Crown Ambulance personnel, I maintain an open discussion process with them regarding patient care, a relationship that I have not witnessed in other institutions. This, I feel, is the key to improving the product that we are trying to achieve — excellent health care at all service levels.
Having a practicing ED physician actively involved in the EMS process is tantamount to achieving the best EMS care. There are no other ED providers who will be likely able to maintain a similar quality assurance program for the proposed town service. I feel that this will negatively impact their ability to provide the best care to patients. Because of this, my personal recommendation will be that patients specifically request Crown Ambulance service. For any critical care needs that I have, I will most certainly call upon Crown.
At this point in time, the city of Presque Isle and its surrounding communities are extremely lucky to be served by such a highly skilled group of EMS providers. It is certainly possible that some of the Crown medics/EMTs may choose to work for the fire department. I feel that this “split” will overall only weaken the current system. Though choice is generally a good thing, in this scenario it will likely be detrimental for all of us.
As an employee of the hospital, I obviously have financial concerns for the hospital as well. As the hospital is the largest employer in the city, I should think that the city council should have an interest in the financial security of this institution.
I hope that the council may consider this opinion in making their decision, which is certainly difficult. I do not feel that politics should play a pivotal role in EMS care in our town. I urge you to consider making your decision based only upon good health care for each of us, our families and our neighbors.