Simple: Increase taxes on the homeowners.
How can the Aiken County Council even think about opening, equipping and staffing a new Emergency Medical Services facility on the southside on Citadel Drive when the Aiken Emergency Medical Services cannot fully staff the eight EMS facilities they already have?
On a recent shift only four of the eight ambulances were manned due to a shortage of qualified personnel. Does the Aiken County Council have a plan in effect to fully man all nine stations 24 hours a day?
There have been at least five and possibly six paramedics (the highest trained medical responders), some long-time employees, leave Aiken county EMS within the past 45 days for other agencies. Other paramedics have been removed from riding the ambulances to perform desk jobs. Apparently there will be only Emergency Medical Technicians (the least trained) responding to calls for emergency medical assistance. Normally there is a paramedic and an EMT on each call response.
Is this the level of emergency medical services that the citizens of Aiken County deserve?
If you, the citizens of Aiken County, want better emergency medical services, contact your Aiken County Council representative.
Rhea Morris, Aiken, S.C.
Comments
Simple: Increase taxes on the homeowners.
So, I guess its safe to assume Aiken county didnt put the ad in the Sunday paper for "AMBULANCE DRIVERS, $10/hour". or did they. EMS wonders why they cant get and keep qualified people to work, thats why. The ad directly above it wanted someone to work in a Dr. office taking blood pressures and organizing rooms for $13/hr. and the office would even train them on the job. No. High Shcool, No Tech School, No College, No training required. Public Safety is overworked and under paid and not even thought about untill they are needed. Who do you want to try to save you life, who do you want when you have an emergency. Cheap, unqualified or well trained, well equiped, professional, responsible, hard working people willing to go the extra mile. Remember, you get what you pay for.
Loved the letter but lets face it, this profession is unlike any other. Most work for pennies because its about helping people not pay.Recent paramedics who left didnt leave because of pay.They left because of the new management that has fragmented the department with micromanagement, power plays, unfairness, inconsistency, verbal abuse and temper tantrums by a director. And believe me, if you think contacting your council rep will help, guess again. Aiken County Government is well aware of whats going on in EMS and could care less. Citizens, remember this at election time. A vital public service is going to hell in a handbag.
The number of employees to leave this service since January is now in the 20s. Some with years on the job also in the 20s...And the above poster is correct, it is because of the threats & abuse of power that is going on. Also correct that county government knows exactly what is going on, including the county administrator. All for a plan to give this system to a private ambulance service. On the county council agenda for the 2nd reading tonight- a proposal that will allow this to happen. No one's advertising this, hoping it will slipped by un-noticed by the people who elected these officials in the first place.
With what they charge for a short ride to the hospital -- they should be able to pay these people more. You get a bill from these people and it is a shock!!!
The service does have a fault and that is the number two in charge. This individual tells everyone he does not care about the employees and has stated "i am set in my job" During trainings. He takes money from the county by running a service for venues that the county could be generating revenue on and use to offer to its employees who work hard to provide the highest quality of care to the citizens of aiken. The employees cannot file grievences because there is no grievence committee. The upper management covers up problems by shredding documents that would show their faults. This individual has his "favorites" who will never do wrong even when it comes to a possible patient death. The people of Aiken county deserve better. This has been and could be a great service again.
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