Report could swing votes on ambulance decision

Adrienne Packer

Monday, Nov. 29, 1999 | 10:17 a.m.

A nationally televised report critical of American Medical Response's performance across the country could play a role in Clark County's decision on whether to allow a second ambulance service in the Las Vegas Valley.

Clark County Manager Dale Askew outlined the Oct. 11 broadcast on ABC's "20/20" in a memo distributed to commissioners.

The board is expected to decide Dec. 7 whether to allow Southwest Ambulance to compete with American Medical Response. AMR and its former parent company Mercy Ambulance have had sole control over the county's ambulance service since 1954.

Askew, who made the videotape available to commissioners, said the report includes complaints about AMR's response times in various states.

"Given the harsh tenor of the report, particularly in an area critical to health and safety, it is important to review some of the issues presented in the program as they apply here in Clark County," Askew wrote.

Nevada was not mentioned on "20/20," but AMR's performance -- particularly response times -- in Clark County has been questioned by Southwest administrators.

John Wilson, executive co-partner of Southwest and former AMR administrator, has used unofficial figures to illustrate his concerns.

Last week Wilson won a minor battle with AMR when the Clark County District Attorney's Office ruled that AMR must turn over its official response time statistics to Southwest.

"This is a very positive step in the right direction to make sure the community gets the best level of care," Wilson said. "It's high time residents get the best service available."

Askew's memo says AMR has for the most part met its response time requirements, which are 8 minutes, 59 seconds for emergencies and 12 minutes, 59 seconds for non-emergencies. April was the only month this year in which AMR did not meet its response time requirements 90 percent of the time.

In addition Askew's note drew attention to the increasing number of exceptions AMR has made when it did not meet the required response times. Exceptions are allowed if conditions, like weather or the wrong address, are not within the company's control. AMR Chief Executive Officer Michael Williams has said his company will prove to the board and to Southwest that it offers the best quality of service available and that it meets its response times.

But Southwest might not be the only agency AMR needs to worry about.

County firefighters are also looking at the possibility of joining the patient transport business, according to Steve Hanson, deputy chief for the Clark County Fire Department.

"We've been watching what's going on in the city with real interest," since the Las Vegas City Council voted to allow the Las Vegas Fire Department to charge for transports, Hanson said. "I think anything that is a benefit to the community, we're in favor of."

The city began transporting patients in January to help recover the cost of responding to calls.

Prior to the council's decision, the city's agreement with AMR was the same as the county's. When a 911 call is made, the county Fire Department and AMR respond. Emergency medical technicians with the county prepare patients and AMR personnel transport them to the hospital.

Williams was opposed to the city's decision not only because the Fire Department took business away from AMR, but because there was confusion at scenes over jurisdiction.

In July the city amended the ordinance to say firefighters will only transport patients involved in traffic accidents that occur within the city limits. Williams said that amounts to about 10 percent of all 911 calls.

Although AMR now works well with Las Vegas, Williams said AMR wouldn't necessarily want to see the county pattern a program on the city's arrangement.

"From a business perspective, they took away 10 percent of our business," Williams said. "We're trying to protect our market share."

Williams said AMR and county firefighters work well together. An independent study conducted by the Polaris Group of Atlanta says Clark County has one of the most economical and efficient systems in the country, Williams said.

He said the trend nationwide is moving toward one private ambulance service provider rather than two competing companies. Williams has also argued that the county should wait until AMR's contract expires in 2003 before introducing a second company in the valley.

"On the business side, I'm trying to protect my company," Williams said. "But I'm also an EMS and I care about what is best for my patients. It's an abysmal failure when you bring in another company."

If the Clark County Commission grants Southwest Ambulance a franchise agreement, the valley likely would be split into six districts with three districts going to each company. AMR would have first choice as to whether it wants to serve the north or the south county region.