The Voluntary Hospitals run ambulances in the NYC 911 system strictly for monetary purposes.STAjo makes some very valid points. Over my lifetime I've seen or heard about consolidations or breaking offs of fire departments, police departments and even public school districts. The real key to success is the leadership at top. Does he/she have a vision of where they want to take take their organization and can they implement a coherant plan to get there? I am aware of consolidations that failed and some succeded. I'm aware of break-offs that have failed and some have exceeded.
I have a question which probably goes beyond the scope of this thread. How is NYC covered by FDNY Ambulances and Voluntary Hospital Ambulances? From what I understand there are some parts of the city where a hospital based ambulance is first due. If it's a minor call which doesn't get a CFRD engine, then theoretically no city employee even shows up at the scene. Would a break-off of the ambulace service do away with the voluntary ambulances? I am sure the medics & emt's from hospital based ambulances are very good, but do they run any Haz-Tech ambulances or Rescue Medics?
I guess what is confusing from the outside looking in, is that no other agency that I know of in NYC doesn't cover the whole city. Whether fire, police, building department or water authority, they cover the whole city. You don't hear that southern Staten Island is covered by the Staten Island Police, or the north Bronx water system is maintained by Tri-State Water Technology.
I suspect it has something to do with finances but I'm not sure. When someone calls 911 I don't think they care if the ambulance pulling uo is Red, Pink, or Green, so long as a competent crew is aboard. So how does it all work?
STAjo makes some very valid points. Over my lifetime I've seen or heard about consolidations or breaking offs of fire departments, police departments and even public school districts. The real key to success is the leadership at top. Does he/she have a vision of where they want to take take their organization and can they implement a coherant plan to get there? I am aware of consolidations that failed and some succeded. I'm aware of break-offs that have failed and some have exceeded.
I have a question which probably goes beyond the scope of this thread. How is NYC covered by FDNY Ambulances and Voluntary Hospital Ambulances? From what I understand there are some parts of the city where a hospital based ambulance is first due. If it's a minor call which doesn't get a CFRD engine, then theoretically no city employee even shows up at the scene. Would a break-off of the ambulace service do away with the voluntary ambulances? I am sure the medics & emt's from hospital based ambulances are very good, but do they run any Haz-Tech ambulances or Rescue Medics?
I guess what is confusing from the outside looking in, is that no other agency that I know of in NYC doesn't cover the whole city. Whether fire, police, building department or water authority, they cover the whole city. You don't hear that southern Staten Island is covered by the Staten Island Police, or the north Bronx water system is maintained by Tri-State Water Technology.
I suspect it has something to do with finances but I'm not sure. When someone calls 911 I don't think they care if the ambulance pulling uo is Red, Pink, or Green, so long as a competent crew is aboard. So how does it all work
Number 1 above is an inaccurate statement. There is no bidding process. As I recall if a hospital wants to participate in the 911 system they contact the FDNY who does an analysis to determine areas of need. If the area of need as identified by the FDNY is agreeable to the hospital asking to participate then they go thru the process to be in the system. The hospital can either elect to service the area of need identified by the FDNY or can withdraw their request to participate.1) The city is split into areas, which are then bid on by the city and the voluntary hospitals. Who ever wins gets the right to put an ambulance there and collect the billing that ambulance generates.
2) Yes, in certain parts of the city such as the upper west side, it is very common for no city employee to be present.
3) Probably, not as I doubt the system itself would change.
4) No
Thanks, Lebby, short and to the point. As I was typing out my questions I thought you'd be the one to answer!1) The city is split into areas, which are then bid on by the city and the voluntary hospitals. Who ever wins gets the right to put an ambulance there and collect the billing that ambulance generates.
2) Yes, in certain parts of the city such as the upper west side, it is very common for no city employee to be present.
3) Probably, not as I doubt the system itself would change.
4) No
That's what I was always told, but I'll ask around to double check. I know of instances where hospitals haven taken over areas that were once the fire department's. Regardless, I'd like to point out that COD Richardson is riding on the bus every Friday to become better acquainted with the system. Which shows amazing leadership on his part.Number 1 above is an inaccurate statement. There is no bidding process. As I recall if a hospital wants to participate in the 911 system they contact the FDNY who does an analysis to determine areas of need. If the area of need as identified by the FDNY is agreeable to the hospital asking to participate then they go thru the process to be in the system. The hospital can either elect to service the area of need identified by the FDNY or can withdraw their request to participate.
You are correct that units have been moved around both voluntary hospital and FDNY units. Many reasons why that happens but mainly operational needs are the driving force behind those moves. I have also heard that the COD is riding the bus to gain insight. Total Respect for the man.That's what I was always told, but I'll ask around to double check. I know of instances where hospitals haven taken over areas that were once the fire department's. Regardless, I'd like to point out that COD Richardson is riding on the bus every Friday to become better acquainted with the system. Which shows amazing leadership on his part.
That's the coolest thing I've heard in a long time 👍I believe the COD alternates his Fridays between an EMS station and a firehouse. If the engine is a 4 man, he rides along with them.
The five boroughs are grossly understaffed when it comes to hospital beds. We saw this highlighted during COVID but sad to say this happens all the time. Staten Island has a total of around 1100 hospital beds for a population of 475,000 or 2.3 per 1,000. The national average is around 2.9 per 1,000. Add in the overcrowding at the hospitals backing up into the ED with a bunch of admitted holds thus your ED gets overcrowded and ambulances get caught up waiting extended times at the ED. It's a huge issue and nobody is addressing it.Hospitals are needed in NYC and politicians know it, so Voluntary Hospitals continue to provide ambulance services for the community, and it saves NYC millions of dollars. I should note the Voluntary Hospitals usually hire very good EMTs and Paramedics. The hospitals do not want bad press and will fire someone at the drop of a dime. The Voluntary Hospitals also used to have top of line equipment, but FDNY has spent big bucks and FDNY ambulances also have great equipment (IMO).