To the editor:
I am writing this in brief response to the proposal that would allow the Presque Isle Fire Department to start an ambulance service to replace Crown Ambulance.
I am a retired Director of Nursing of the Aroostook Medical Center, a registered nurse for over 40 years and have a master’s degree in health care administration from George Washington University. I am also a Life Fellow in the American College of Health Care Administrators, and believe that these credentials and long consideration of the proposal and/or alternatives leads me to state that this is not a good idea for the residents of Presque Isle (myself included).
When we moved to Presque Isle in 1981, I was appalled at the ambulance service, among other things. It was, as we used to say at the Detroit Medical Center, a “meat wagon”, which offered first aid and oxygen. Through the ensuing years, I was fortunate to work with many devoted physicians, nurses, hospital administrators and ambulance service staff, to see the hospital and ambulance service improve and improve. Thousands of hours of hard work went into many of the decisions, training and financing, so that at the current time, we in Presque Isle are second to none in all aspects of this vital service. I cannot conceive of a lesser ambulance service and urge all involved citizens, the City Council, and the Medical Center to leave things as they are. Don’t try to fix something that is not broken and works effectively.
I have on several times been a user of the ambulance service, even having been flown to Maine Medical Center for acute cardiac problems. During those episodes I never was afraid because I knew the quality of paramedic training, the excellent communication system between medical center, plane and ambulance. I cannot conceive of a lesser level of training handling life-threatening issues!
I could go on and on, but I will end with a plea to the city council to look elsewhere for money with its budget problems. Thank you for your kind attention to this note.
Presque Isle
