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Local News

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

City firefighters planning to stop most medical runs
By JOY BROWN

STAFF WRITER

In a budget-cutting move, Findlay firefighters will no longer be responding to most 911 calls for medical assistance as of Nov. 30, according to Fire Chief Tom Lonyo.

On Friday, Lonyo sent letters to Hanco Ambulance and Medcorp informing the private ambulance companies of his decision.

As of Monday the companies had not responded to the letter, nor did they return calls made by The Courier.

The fire department has been assisting the private ambulance companies with medical calls, for free, for 10 years. Lonyo said half of the fire department's total runs are for medical assistance.

The cutback was included in the department's 2009 budget proposal which Lonyo said he has already submitted to city officials. Safety Director Jim Barker is aware of the plan and has not expressed disapproval, the chief said.

Lonyo said he had once favored the idea of expanding firefighters' response to calls for medical assistance, but now must sacrifice that service due to budget constraints.

All departments were ordered to slash their 2009 budgets by 9 percent and submit those proposals to administrators by this Friday. Lonyo said he must cut more than that because of firefighter raises in a soon-to-be-ratified union contract.

Higher health insurance costs are not helping matters, Lonyo said.

The fire department cuts will include not replacing seven firefighters who will retire next year.

Reducing 911 responses will save the department up to $45,000 annually, counting the costs of continuing education, fuel, apparatus maintenance and supplies, Lonyo said.

By making these cutbacks, other reductions can be avoided, he said, like cutting more firefighter jobs or closing a fire station.

“I lose one more firefighter and we effectively have to shut Station 3 down,” he said.

The city is loath to close the 50-year-old Fire Station 3 at the corner of Tiffin and McManness avenues, not only because it would slow response times and leave the east side vulnerable with only one station on Hancock County 236, but because it could bump up the city's Insurance Services Office (ISO) public protection classification rating.

That could raise fire insurance rates for homeowners and businesses by as much as 10 percent, Lonyo said.

According to Lonyo, firefighters began responding to all 911 medical assistance calls around 1998 when Medcorp arrived in Findlay because the company's workers were unfamiliar with the area.

“But we don't have a cost recovery in EMS,” said Lonyo. “We're supplementing private companies who bill and collect, and we don't get a dime. I've thought it's always been a great service we provide, but we just can't afford it. I can't justify losing fire positions and still supplementing EMS (calls) with personnel.

“Most fire departments actually run their own ambulance company, but we don't have that kind of money,” said Lonyo.

“We've gone back and reassessed (the department's) core mission,” said Lonyo.

Firefighters will not forsake all 911 calls, however. They will still respond to injury traffic accidents, carbon monoxide investigations, and requests for assistance in lock-out situations.

They will also respond to medical calls in life-threatening situations if there are no private ambulances available, providing first responder care until an ambulance can get to the scene.

Matt Cooper, president of International Association of Firefighters Local 381, said reducing 911 response is not favored by firefighters.

“Obviously we don't want to see anybody lose their job. But this also means less service to the citizens. By eliminating that service we feel it puts people's lives in danger. It will be a detriment to the city,” said Cooper, who noted ambulance response times are occasionally slower in the northeast portion of the city because MedCorp is located near downtown while Hanco's garage is on Sixth Street to the south.

Cooper also said in many situations, a firefighter rides with ambulance workers to treat patients on the way to the hospital. That especially comes in handy when both CPR and medication must be administered since usually only two ambulance workers respond to a scene -- and one is driving the ambulance.

MedCorp and Hanco swap the responsibility for Findlay medical calls each week, and city administrators may have to re-evaluate that system, Lonyo said.

“In the very near future we'll have to sit down and talk to the two companies and talk about response times,” said Lonyo. “They (city administrators) could try one of two things: they could split the city in half and (have both services) work on a full-time basis, or they could look at having a single provider for EMS and have those two stations.

“It'll be up to the city council, the mayor and his administration to solve that issue,” said Lonyo.

Brown: 419-427-8496,

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9 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
SM wrote:
All this and the ROC too.
“ It seems funny in light of risking peoples' lives with this cut; the administration is planning to take over the Sherriff's money loser. If the budget is in such dire straights, how could this even be considered? Behind the scenes, it is almost like business as usual.

A point of clarification, before Hanco came to be in the 1970s the fire department was the sole EMS provider in Findlay. The funeral homes had "meat wagons" that transported accident victims to the ER or more likely the morgue.
 ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 7:59:08 PM
Medic wrote:
Responding Firefighters
“ It never fails to amaze me how wrong The Courier is about almost everything. Fire was required to respond to 911 calls after they installed AEDs on their units this was pre-1998 and had nothing to do with MedCorp. It was a liability issue, nothing more, nothing less.

As far as response times go, that information is public knowledge. Ask for it if you want to see it. Since 2001 MedCorp set it own policy to respond anywhere in the city in under 8 minutes from time of call.

The information is there if you ask for it. Try getting the facts straight next time before you assemble the "Good Old Boys" club.

 ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:55:32 PM
cityworker wrote:
right
“ Dear gorge so good to here from you your such a wealth of one side bigot information, likes there no wrong doing. Or back room politics
Maybe youre a county guy and should just concern your self with county affairs
 ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:51:54 PM
Paramedic wrote:
Fire
“ With respect, the reason why Fire has been FORCED to respond in the city is as a result of potential liability that had arisen after realizing AED's were on fire apparatus. This came quite a few years AFTER 1998 and had nothing to do as a result of MedCorp. ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:40:44 PM
cityworker wrote:
our taxes our men
“ Yes we had ambulances in the central fire deptment in the 1960s ,,,,we need the use these buildings
They are laid out to cut down response time. Unlike where hanco/medco are now .we should use and pay for our men first. Its time to change lives first///
 ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 1:17:33 PM
city worker wrote:
what crap
“ its not about making cash its about lifes ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 12:56:39 PM
Mark Hamil wrote:
Re: City Worker
“ In response to what City Worker has to say, first the ambulances have never been in with the Fire Dept here in Findlay. Second EMS run by Fire dept is a loosing battle, they dont make money. 911 calls you make about 40% of what is billed if not less. You spend more money on going after people for collections then you make. Chief Lonyo is correct saying he looses money. All Municipal Fire run EMS services come right out of the city budget, costing the city money.

We do need the Fireman, to do their normal day to day job. On most 911 medical calls the Fire dept is used to first respond to the house and begin treating the patient. There has been times when the fire dept is sent to a 911 where they are absolutely not needed, and then there are calls they are needed and they never show up.

They also mention about response times for 911 calls. Remember Hanco is far south on Sixth st, and MedCorp is central on N. Cory at High St. Who will be quicker when you call 911? ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 11:26:50 AM
jon denver wrote:
Thank a Libertarian...
“ For all of those out there that think the Libertarian way is the way to go....this is exactly what will happen to everything. First no EMT's, then no Fire, then no Police, then no road repairs, then no schools. The Republicans are not much better, but think twice before voting Libertarian. On second thought....go ahead and vote that way....a vote for Bob Barr is a vote for Obama! ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 8:39:33 AM
city worker wrote:
the golden window
“ Or we could put the ambulances' back in the fire stations where they where years ago
These men need to respond to the city needs... when we need them. its you and your family lives at risk
Its not the cost some things,,,, but there value. Someones life ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 4:44:51 AM
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