To the Editor:
I read with interest the article concerning the study into the future of EMS and Advanced Life Support in the area. I was in attendance at the meeting and would like to contribute further to the discussion.
The problem that faces the area is by no means anything new. The entire industry (and it is a business) is facing a shortage of volunteers for a number of reasons. It is becoming more and more difficult to afford to participate for several reasons and are not unique to our neck of the woods.
It has become increasingly more difficult to earn a living and maintain the lifestyle we have become accustomed to; and that goes for the employers also. Very few employers are willing to give up the time to their employees to leave work for a call.
The requirements are approaching the level of a profession, and we are expected to complete them on a part-time basis.
People are finding it more and more inconvenient to give up a part of their lives to help serve others. The only ones that can truly afford this are the ones who are already retired.
Unless, of course, you plan to make this your career, and that opportunity does not exist here.
The emergency health care system is looking into career opportunities, but they are quite a ways down the road. This is a problem that has been building for years here, but ignored because it wasn’t a crisis yet.
I am glad that the meeting occurred to bring to light the problem. We need to find a solution and stop the finger pointing and trying to lay blame on a system that is on the wane.
There was mention that some of the problem was that there was no health care available on weekends. When the town opted to give up control of their own health care, they ended up with a primary care facility.
Demanding that the hospital open on weekends to schedule more patients will not solve anything. The emergency room is 60 miles away and that is just a fact.
People that are moving here are expecting service immediately and don’t care how that happens. The service that they have come to be used to is often provided by either a municipal funded emergency service or a paid for profit private service.
Even the volunteer services are charging the patients for services rendered under the guise of resource recovery.
This has made it easier to operate as it creates a revenue stream. But it has not solved the volunteer problem.
It doesn’t make sense to ask someone to spend thousands of hours training to become a paramedic, and pay for it out of their pockets, charge for their services under the guise of a volunteer and not offer to compensate them anymore.
It has become a big business, and maybe it is time we looked at it that way here.
We need someone to step up and take over; and we need a reason for them to take the time to do it before it becomes too late and we are forced to make a hasty decision like we did at the Health Center.
Respectfully,
David W Berkstresser EMTP, CIC, BS, Old Forge
