Ambulance troubles persist across state
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2
By Johnny Johnson
Published: March 14, 2008
OWASSO — As director of the Emergency Medical Services Division for the state Health Department, Shawn Rogers knows better than most how dire the ambulance coverage is in Oklahoma.
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Emergency care crisis
The ambulance services network is getting thinner and thinner, he said. Additionally, response times have been increasing significantly.
If a heart attack is called in from Clayton, he said, that heart patient may have to wait an hour to get to a hospital — 30 minutes for the ambulance to arrive, and another 30 minutes to get to the hospital.
More than one-third of the state is supported by ambulance services that operate "in the red,” Rogers said.
Many of the rural providers don't receive enough Medicare reimbursement to cover their costs, and while many of them complete less than 1,000 runs per year, the communities they serve would be devastated if the services were discontinued, he said.
The good news, Rogers said, is that officials are starting to take notice. The state Board of Health passed a resolution last month calling on state lawmakers to take action.
Last year, Gov. Brad Henry formed a task force that came back with recommendations on how to fix EMS coverage.
And earlier this year, the governor included the ambulance service issue in his "state of the state” address, and asked for $2.2 million to help provide better emergency medical services for the state.
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Related Topics:
Emergency Medicine, Health and Fitness, Medical Specializations, Medicine, Emergency Services, U.S. Government, U.S. State Government
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lisa, pawhuska - Mar 15, 2008 11:35 AM
• Report: Offensive language
WELL, YOU KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IS RIGHT THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN DRAMA BUT CLAY AND THE STATE IS CAUSED OUR DRAMA . YOU CAN ASK THE HOSPITALS AND THE TOWNS' PEOPLE ABOUT THE OTHE SERVICE BEFORE MERCY AND IT WAS JUST GREAT.....
lisa, pawhuska - Mar 15, 2008 11:31 AM
• Report: Offensive language

