Hall Ambulance offers timely response to recent editorial
Hall Ambulance offers timely response to recent editorial
By: Carin Enovijas, Tehachapi News Editor
Topics: ambulance, hall, emergency response
Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
Viewed 1188 times
0 responses 20 comments Representatives from Hall Ambulance (HAS) and the Director of Kern County Emergency Medical Services responded in a timely fashion to an editorial titled “Emergency response required,” published April 4.
“We have a history of dedication to this community,” said Darlene Denison, business office manager of communications and public relations.
Denison and her co-worker Mark Corum traveled up from Bakersfield to meet with the Tehachapi News on April 12 to set the record straight about the services they currently provide to the residents of the Tehachapi area.
“We [ambulance services] are the leader in emergency response,” said Denison, explaining that HAS current operates on a fractal response time, not an average response time as stated in the editorial. “We are meeting and exceeding the details of the performance standards and the details of the contract we have with the county.”
EMS Director Ross Elliot responded in a letter, supporting that claim.
“In 2006 there were 1,272 emergency ambulance responses in the Tehachapi area. Of these, Hall met the time standard 1,197 times. This is a compliance rate of 94.1 percent. A compliance rate of 100 percent is virtually impossible to meet and there is no EMS system in the nation that requires ambulances to achieve compliance 100 percent of the time,” stated Elliot.
Denison and Corum both expressed dismay over the recent editorials “hurtful” tone as well as a recent TV news report that detailed rising community concerns about current ambulance standards meeting the needs of the rapidly growing Tehachapi area.
“Why didn’t the community come to us?” said Denison, adding that patient quality surveys demonstrate a high rate of customer satisfaction and that no complaints regarding response times have been filed for the Tehachapi area.
The topic of political agendas did come up during the meeting.
“We recently had a problem with taped calls,” said Dennison, explaining that the Kern County Fire Department receives initial 911 calls then alerts Hall’s private dispatch to request an ambulance.
“There was quite a bit of time lapse. We have paid to install an electronic stream of data so that call will go to Hall for immediate dispatch.”
Denison said that the fire department was initially opposed to Hall having access to that service, calling it a Department of Justice issue.
Both Denison and Corum said that call volume has increased in the last year and that Mr. Hall is looking to add a station in the Golden Hills area.
“Tehachapi has been a special community to Mr. Hall,” said Denison adding that several members of the Tehachapi staff are also local residents who care about serving the community they live in.
“We want to do the right thing and give people that piece of mind they deserve. There is no hidden agenda,” Denison said, offering to speak with anyone who wishes to discuss Hall’s services.
An outline of ambulance services provided in the Tehachapi area
Courtesy of Hall Ambulance
Hall Ambulance Service (HAS) provides the following resources to Tehachapi and surrounding communities:
• Station in Tehachapi-Staffed 24/7 with Paramedic and EMT ambulance
• Second paramedic and EMT staffed ambulance staff 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday
• Third ambulance located at station that can be used as a back-up to large disasters with call-back personnel that live in the area
• Paramedic Field Supervisor Unit stationed in East Kern that is staffed with a Paramedic and is equipped with advanced life support equipment such as a cardiac monitor and live-saving narcotics.
• Additional benefits from HAS are the substantial resources available from East Kern and West Kern.
• HAS automatically sends a replacement paramedic and EMT staffed ambulance from another area when a call is received in Tehachapi within 2 minutes.
• HAS has a number of paramedic and EMT employees that live in the Tehachapi area that can be called upon as needed from off-duty to respond.
• Hall Ambulance Service is aggressively looking for another 24 hour station to support the community’s growth. At the time the station is established HAS will staff an additional full-time 24/7 ambulance.
For more information contact Darlene Denison at 322-8741.
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Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:06:52 PDT
Are you kidding me? Maybe I read this wrong ,but it sounds like Hall's people are actually trying to blame KCFD for their short comings! Why try to even point the finger? I mean they already stated expecting a timely service for a possible life threatning situation is an impossible feat 100% of the time. They want people from the community to express their concerns. NOOOOOOOO problem. Can someone give me a address or something? I've got some "concerns" I'd like to express!
Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:58:45 PDT
Hall Ambulance keeps their own times, so making their response times should not be hard for them. Also under the current rules when an ambulance is dispatched in Tehachapi if a 2nd call for service also comes in within 30 minutes it doesn't count if they are late. It is sad that Hall blames the 911 dispatchers for slowing down the process. I know I want a government employee answering 911 not a private ambulance company. The only politics involved here is Mr. Hall and his control! Also the 2nd ambulance is not staffed every day. You can call Hall at 327-4111 Anyone with a scanner can hear, " Your Ambulance is responding from Mojave" at lest once a week.
Mon Apr 16, 2007 13:35:39 PDT
You have 3 areas Frazer Park, Pine Mountain Club and now Tehachapi complaining about the same thing. Is it all politics? All we are asking for a full time 24/7 second ambulance.
Mon Apr 16, 2007 14:21:47 PDT
I would like to thank Carin Enovijas for taking the time to meet with Darlene Denison and me to get the facts straight. Hall Ambulance Service has proudly served the city of Tehachapi and its surrounding communities since 1979. While it may be the perception of a few bloggers that the area is being underserved, the reality is that Hall Ambulance is meeting the need.
I have serious concerns over the validity of blogging as a form of communications, given its tolerance for total anonymity. If countygirl, medicone or ShaneThePain have concerns that they would like to share, I would encourage them to reveal their identity and contact Hall Ambulance Service directly.
I find it ironic that the three bloggers mentioned above appear to have ties to the fire department. Once again, they are giving the public inaccurate information. For example, response times are recorded and unable to be manipulated. Secondly, there is no 30-minute exemption for the second response in a rural area. If you do not want to take my word for it, go to the County of Kern EMS Department’s website and download the performance standards for ambulance companies.
What I would like to know from these “experts” is what the fire department does when a second fire occurs at the same time in their response area? What is the response time requirement of the fire department and who regulates them for accuracy?
So, countygirl, medicone and ShaneThePain, give us a call. We would love to sit down and talk with you.
Mark Corum
Director of Public-Media Relations
Hall Ambulance Service, Inc.
661-322-8741
Mon Apr 16, 2007 14:46:58 PDT
1st off I do not work for the fire department. 2nd Your sarcasm shows the respect you have for the citizens of Tehachapi. Why do you blame the fire department for your lack of performance? The fire department has what, 4 fire stations that are being served by just one full time Tehachapi ambulance. So Mark how many times a week does one of your units respond to Tehachapi from a distance? Why has Hall stated a Golden Hills station is being planed for more then 10 years? How much longer do we have to wait?
Mon Apr 16, 2007 14:59:00 PDT
Courtesy of Hall AmbulanceHall Ambulance Service (HAS) provides the following resources to Tehachapi and surrounding communities:• Station in Tehachapi-Staffed 24/7 with Paramedic and EMT ambulance• It serves an area with over 28,000 people, a prison that calls 3 times a day and a hospital that transports everyone down the hill. Second paramedic and EMT staffed ambulance staff 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday• It is only staffed when Hall can find Paramedics to staff it Third ambulance located at station that can be used as a back-up to large disasters with call-back personnel that live in the area• We can't staff all of our units everyday but Mark says we can do this, I don't think so! Paramedic Field Supervisor Unit stationed in East Kern that is staffed with a Paramedic and is equipped with advanced life support equipment such as a cardiac monitor and live-saving narcotics. • but he can't transport anyone to the hospital Additional benefits from HAS are the substantial resources available from East Kern and West Kern. • HAS automatically sends a replacement paramedic and EMT staffed ambulance from another area when a call is received in Tehachapi within 2 minutes. only when they are not on a call as well• HAS has a number of paramedic and EMT employees that live in the Tehachapi area that can be called upon as needed from off-duty to respond.• they haven't done this for years. Radar and the TOC went away years ago Hall Ambulance Service is aggressively looking for another 24 hour station to support the community’s growth. WHY? If you are making all your goals like you say, why add a 2nd ambulance?At the time the station is established HAS will staff an additional full-time 24/7 ambulance. You been saying this for over ten years!!! I started with Hall over 7 years ago and have been told this lie over and over again. Mr. Hall makes the rules everyone knows this. The County EMS department is made up of 95% ex ( but still loyal) Hall workers. Hall has proven over and over he can do what he likes.
Mon Apr 16, 2007 15:46:38 PDT
I mite be just a dumb kid but I think I will believe the anonymous bloggers with "apprent" fire department ties over the big corporation guy. 1,200 calls That's like more then 3 calls a day. Does that count the calls from the prison and hospital or just 911?
Mon Apr 16, 2007 16:36:44 PDT
Thank you Mark for your time and the info. Hey people.....according to Mark the news story on 17 was the first time Hall has ever heard of people being dissatisfied with their current level of service here in the Tehachapi area. If you are NOT happy with the service being provided give them a call or write them a letter. I can only speak for myself. If they know enough people are concerned then maybe they will hold a town meeting about it. The only way they will believe us is if those people who are not happy about it stand up and make some noise on THEIR end!!!
Mon Apr 16, 2007 18:24:03 PDT
What a bunch of bull from the Hall's PR guy. How can they say they meet the 8 min response every time they respond to Bear Valley and Stallion Springs. I agree with the other blogger that when Hall's keeps track and reports their own times, how easy it is to make the times. I was listening to the scanner the other day when the fire dispatcher cancelled Engine 17 stating halls was on scene and the fire department wasn't needed. The Captain answered stating he was on scene and Hall's wasn't there. Hall's unit got on the fire radio stating they would be on scene in two minutes. Five minutes later they arrived. This is how meets their time frames. This is the reason LA City and many other fire departments run their own ambulances. Allowing public safety to be in the hands of for profit (huge profits) companies is allowing a private profit making company to put a price on your life.
Mon Apr 16, 2007 18:51:41 PDT
My question for Mark from Hall is this, IF all the people posting on here have ties to the fire department why would they be asking for a 2nd ambulance? Will the firefighters jobs get easier? NO Will the firefighters get more money? NO Will the county take over ambulance service? NO Will a 2nd ambulance make Tehachapi a safer place? YES
Also back in the day when I worked for Hall, the ambulance crews went 10-97 ( on scene) before we were there all the time. We did this because if you didn't make the 8 minute response time the crew and the dispatcher had to write a report stating why. No one likes extra paperwork.
Mon Apr 16, 2007 19:43:42 PDT
'mings' I hope someone is looking into that story you just told. I dont care if it is a firemen, cop or the bum on the street that brings this to our attention, we need a 2nd ambulance. The Hall PR guys post above sums up what and how Hall feels about Tehachapi. He and Hall are above us and our needs. I was transported by Halls, it cost me and my insurance over $5,000. So $5,000 X 1272 calls is $6,000,000. I think he can pay for a 2nd ambulance! Also that number doesn't have the hospital and prison calls in it I am sure. I know that Hall takes most inmates down to Bakersfield and the state pays full price. Looks like good money to me.
Tue Apr 17, 2007 08:30:06 PDT
I lived in Tehachapi for 28 years. I have NO ties to the Fire Dept or any county officials. I just need to ask some questions:
SHANE THE PAIN: Am I to understand there is still only 1 ambulance servicing Tehachapi? Also where does the ambulance travel from? Does it service other cities? What if the ambulance is caught up in a 3 car pile up on Tehachapi willow springs Road and there is another accident out in Golden Hills? What happens then? Fill me in on all of this and i will then DEFINITELY comment on this...
Tue Apr 17, 2007 08:50:07 PDT
Well the Hall PR guy just posted that he has one full time and one part time ambulance in Tehachapi. They respond from downtown Tehachapi. I have been told and have read in the other post that the second ambulance may not be staffed all the time. Hall has some of the best Paramedics around and most of them work in the Tehachapi area. These poor paramedics/EMT's are running 10 to 15 calls a shift and they are getting little sleep. All I want to see is two full time ambulances in the Tehachapi area. I am asking for this as a resident of Tehachapi. I have kids and family here in town and don't want them to wait for an ambulance from out of town if they need it. I hope people would post what they think Good or Bad about this topic.
Tue Apr 17, 2007 09:32:19 PDT
The full time unit comes out of the city, the part time unit also comes out of the city when its has a crew. When the part time unit is not staffed we get our 2 ND Ambulance from Mojave or even Arvin.
Tue Apr 17, 2007 09:42:33 PDT
2 full time ambulances is in no way too much to ask for the Greater Tehachapi Area. Come on now...I realize we all love the small town ambiance..but health and safety issues are a must. Why won't Mr. Hall put 2 full time ambulances there? Wont he be making $$ from it?
Tue Apr 17, 2007 09:44:03 PDT
Yes, I too have wondered why the ambulance service is run by a private company and not the county. I certainly wouldn't think resources would be an issue for the county. Also, maybe I missed this somewhere along the line, but what is determining factor for assigning a second ambulance? It certainly seems that with the amount of people here in the whole Tehachapi area that a second ambulance is sorely needed.
Tue Apr 17, 2007 21:58:56 PDT
Greg, as stated by others on here, Harvey Hall has a lot of political pull. Decisions are made by the County EMS department and most of these employees are former Hall's employees (can you say conflict of interest?). It is very hard for me to understand how the county Board of Supervisors can depend on a for profit business to make life and death decisions for us.
Wed Apr 18, 2007 13:05:38 PDT
It looks like Mr. Mark Corum does not have anymore "answers" for us. He can no longer blame this blog on firefighters so he is gone.
Wed Apr 18, 2007 13:52:09 PDT
Good afternoon medicone,
As mentioned in my initial response, I would welcome having the opportunity to speak to you on the phone or in person to discuss your perceived concerns. As long as you remain behind a username, there is no real value to continuing a discussion. You can anonymously continue to spout off mistruths while as a Public Relations professional I am bound to presenting factual data.
If you really want to make a difference, give me a call.
Mark Corum
Director of Public-Media Relations
Hall Ambulance Service, Inc.
661-322-8741
Wed Apr 18, 2007 16:19:26 PDT
Why would I want to call and talk to you? When I worked for you your selective hearing got in the way of having a real discussion. Also when countygirl called and talked to you all you had to say was "We are meeting our requirements." "We are meeting our requirements." "We are meeting our requirements." . We can all see by your posts that you hold anyone with a different view as your own as misinformed, politicing, fire department related. It is time to change the requirements! It's time for a 2nd full time ambulance in the Tehachapi area.
Hey everyone there is now a blog that has been started by "jim" in the blog zone. I encourage everyone to go there to make your post. The link is posted below.
