By Monica Rodriguez
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
POMONA, Calif. — The city could reduce its fire service contract costs by decreasing the number of paramedics assigned to paramedic squads, according to a consultant.
Matrix Consulting Group has recommended Pomona move forward with a reconfiguration proposal presented by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
The analysis also recommends the city work with the county to negotiate other changes that could lead to savings.
Possible changes include having paramedic squads consisting of a paramedic and an emergency medical technician, instead of two paramedics, respond to advance life support calls, such as heart attacks.
The analysis clearly states such a suggestion would have to be approved by local emergency medical officials.
Such a paramedic configuration is frequently used in rural communities, said John Tripp, county Fire Department chief deputy of emergency operations. But implementing such a system in Pomona is “not something we would entertain,” Tripp said.
Having two-person paramedic units respond to a heart attack or other life-threatening matters ensures there are enough qualified personnel to communicate with a hospital and provide the necessary care to the patient, said Cathy Chidester, director of the county’s Emergency Medical Services Agency.
Having two licensed paramedics respond to calls for advanced-life support is a long-standing rule that goes back to the establishment of paramedic programs in Los Angeles County in the late 1960s.
The regulation was approved by members of the county’s Board of Supervisors, Chidester said. Exceptions can be made, but only on a temporary basis, she said.
Having two-person paramedic units respond to a heart attack or other life-threatening case ensures there are enough qualified personnel to communicate with a hospital and provide necessary care to a patient, Chidester said.
Tripp said when the Fire Department responds to a 9-1-1 medical call a two-man paramedic unit responds along with a three-man engine. Sometimes all five people are needed to help treat a patient.
Depending on the circumstances, the engine and its personnel can leave the medical call and respond to another incident, be it a fire or medical call, if they are needed elsewhere, Tripp said.
The paramedic unit can also respond quickly to another call, be it a fire or call for medical assistance, once they’ve turned a patient over to medical personnel at a hospital, he said.
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