MGH EMS, Marquette General EMS, Bell EMS, Bell Memorial
EMS, Bell Hospital, Bell Hospital Ambulance, Ishpeming
Ambulance, Marquette, MI Ishpeming, MI, Gwinn, MI,
Negaunee, MI. In an emergency in Marquette County
Michigan (MI) you should dial 911 and ask for MediRide
EMS. MGH EMS, Marquette General EMS, Bell EMS, Bell
Memorial EMS, Bell Hospital, Bell Hospital Ambulance,
Ishpeming Ambulance, Marquette, MI Ishpeming, MI, Gwinn,
MI, Negaunee, MI. In an emergency in Marquette County
Michigan (MI) you should dial 911 and ask for MediRide
EMS.
EMS, Bell Hospital, Bell Hospital Ambulance, Ishpeming
Ambulance, Marquette, MI Ishpeming, MI, Gwinn, MI,
Negaunee, MI. In an emergency in Marquette County
Michigan (MI) you should dial 911 and ask for MediRide
EMS. MGH EMS, Marquette General EMS, Bell EMS, Bell
Memorial EMS, Bell Hospital, Bell Hospital Ambulance,
Ishpeming Ambulance, Marquette, MI Ishpeming, MI, Gwinn,
MI, Negaunee, MI. In an emergency in Marquette County
Michigan (MI) you should dial 911 and ask for MediRide
EMS.
| Serving all of Marquette County, Michigan |
Dispatch Rules Illegal & Dangerous
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Copyright 2007. MediRide, Inc. All rights reserved. |
| For More MediRide EMS Community Excellence News, Click Here. |
(Marquette, MI) - "A flagrant violation of State law and a complete
overextension of power," is how MediRide, Inc. EMS CEO Dave
Guizzetti described a new dispatch policy created by the Marquette
County Central Dispatch Policy Board.
Marquette County Central Dispatch (MCCD) Director, Joe
VanOosterhout introduced a draft of the new policy to the
organization's policy Board as the members were filing in to the
Thursday June 15, 2006 meeting.
The new dispatch policy, which effects all EMS agencies in
Marquette County, alters the way ambulances are dispatched to
overextension of power," is how MediRide, Inc. EMS CEO Dave
Guizzetti described a new dispatch policy created by the Marquette
County Central Dispatch Policy Board.
Marquette County Central Dispatch (MCCD) Director, Joe
VanOosterhout introduced a draft of the new policy to the
organization's policy Board as the members were filing in to the
Thursday June 15, 2006 meeting.
The new dispatch policy, which effects all EMS agencies in
Marquette County, alters the way ambulances are dispatched to
callers of 911 for emergency assistance. State law, and Marquette County EMS Medical Control Authority rules
state that when an individual accesses the 9-1-1 system for emergency assistance, the dispatchers send the
closest available unit to that caller. Under the new rule, the two Advanced Life Support (ALS) agencies in the city
of Marquette are being forced to alternate calls, regardless of their relative location to the patient dialing 9-1-1. In
the meeting, Marquette County Central Dispatch Director Joe VanOosterhout expressed his concern over the
dispatchers confusion with ambulance polling to determine closest location. "The dispatchers resent the two
agencies (MGH EMS & MediRide EMS) putting us in this position," VanOosterhout declared to the board.
During the brief discussion of the new dispatch measure, one board member asked if the two agencies were
consulted prior to drafting the resolution. The response from another was simply, "why should we let two
businesses dictate policy to the policy board?" According to officials from MediRide, Inc. EMS, that is exactly what
should've been done. "Obviously, these people were not making an informed decision. Without input from the
services, who have a much greater grasp of the legal issues involved, they moved on something that could
potentially put those in need of emergency aid in jeopardy," said Guizzetti. "We believe that this decision puts
peoples' lives in unnecessary danger, and we believe that it was done because of pressure from our
competitors."
Marquette General Health System officials notified MediRide, Inc. EMS that they were cancelling the original
alternating dispatch arrangement to use the closest car concept beginning February 15, 2006 with the plan to
strategically position their ambulances so as to block MediRide's ambulances from receiving calls. After a short
time, it was clear that MediRide's call volume actually increased under the closest car concept. "We said right
from the start that ambulances should be dispatched under the law using the mandated closest car concept. We
were elated when MGH decided to follow the law," said Guizzetti. "They must've realized it wasn't working out the
way they had planned because after a month or so, Venetia Bryers, and Al Hendra from MGH Administration
requested a secret out-of-town meeting with me and asked me to agree to return to the alternating agreement.
Of course, I told them that we would not agree, and we would insist that ambulances continue to be dispatched by
the law. Now all of a sudden MGH has gotten their wish another way."
MediRide, Inc. EMS believes that patients in Marquette County deserve the quick response of the closest unit
when they dial 9-1-1 for emergency assistance. After all, isn't that the point of the law. We believe your life and
health are important and we encourage all to contact their County Commissioners and Joe VanOosterhout at
Marquette County Central Dispatch to demand they follow the rule of law. It's time big business interests did not
come in the way of our rights.
state that when an individual accesses the 9-1-1 system for emergency assistance, the dispatchers send the
closest available unit to that caller. Under the new rule, the two Advanced Life Support (ALS) agencies in the city
of Marquette are being forced to alternate calls, regardless of their relative location to the patient dialing 9-1-1. In
the meeting, Marquette County Central Dispatch Director Joe VanOosterhout expressed his concern over the
dispatchers confusion with ambulance polling to determine closest location. "The dispatchers resent the two
agencies (MGH EMS & MediRide EMS) putting us in this position," VanOosterhout declared to the board.
During the brief discussion of the new dispatch measure, one board member asked if the two agencies were
consulted prior to drafting the resolution. The response from another was simply, "why should we let two
businesses dictate policy to the policy board?" According to officials from MediRide, Inc. EMS, that is exactly what
should've been done. "Obviously, these people were not making an informed decision. Without input from the
services, who have a much greater grasp of the legal issues involved, they moved on something that could
potentially put those in need of emergency aid in jeopardy," said Guizzetti. "We believe that this decision puts
peoples' lives in unnecessary danger, and we believe that it was done because of pressure from our
competitors."
Marquette General Health System officials notified MediRide, Inc. EMS that they were cancelling the original
alternating dispatch arrangement to use the closest car concept beginning February 15, 2006 with the plan to
strategically position their ambulances so as to block MediRide's ambulances from receiving calls. After a short
time, it was clear that MediRide's call volume actually increased under the closest car concept. "We said right
from the start that ambulances should be dispatched under the law using the mandated closest car concept. We
were elated when MGH decided to follow the law," said Guizzetti. "They must've realized it wasn't working out the
way they had planned because after a month or so, Venetia Bryers, and Al Hendra from MGH Administration
requested a secret out-of-town meeting with me and asked me to agree to return to the alternating agreement.
Of course, I told them that we would not agree, and we would insist that ambulances continue to be dispatched by
the law. Now all of a sudden MGH has gotten their wish another way."
MediRide, Inc. EMS believes that patients in Marquette County deserve the quick response of the closest unit
when they dial 9-1-1 for emergency assistance. After all, isn't that the point of the law. We believe your life and
health are important and we encourage all to contact their County Commissioners and Joe VanOosterhout at
Marquette County Central Dispatch to demand they follow the rule of law. It's time big business interests did not
come in the way of our rights.
| (c) Copyright 2006 MediRide, Inc. EMS. All Rights Reserved. |