KnightRider

Recently, at my former employer (private EMS), we had an EMT who had some sort of mental episode. We came back from a trip and there were 3 officers in the management office and eventually PD took him to the hospital for a psych eval, and he was discharged the same day. The company owner even stoodby with him at the hospital and brought him back to station so he can clock out and go home, acting like she was concerned. A few days later, he was terminated. Management was quick to say it was not because of a mental health issue. So, they found some trivial issue to terminate him so they wouldnt have to deal with him it sounded like. Like it was said above, private EMS doesnt care. Last I checked he was alright. Maybe you can get this coworkers confidence and try to figure out whats wrong?

Around here, the 9-1-1 services do not have pillows on-board. The hospitals all seem to be in short supply. We ask the patient at their house or facility if they would like to grab on of their pillows for comfort. Otherwise, its a short trip to the hospital. The private services seem to have them that they grab from the nursing homes usually.

Dont beat me up too bad here but I feel I am having a conflict of conscious. I have been in EMS (both fire and private) for nearly 3 years now. Time and time again, I see, on the private side, patients who are getting an ambulance ride when they really do not qualify. Attached are the forms in use in Ohio. One is for wheelchair/ambulette's, the other for ambulance/stretcher transport. At the bottom, it clearly says, "False certification constitutes Medicaid fraud." The social workers at the hospital like to use "qualifiers" to make it acceptable. With as busy as we are, I feel we shouldnt take patients who do not qualify for our service because, its fraudulent and I fear of somehow getting implicated or in trouble. My former private employer would decline these trips if we questioned them (patient was walking around, had family that could transport, etc). My current employer essentially says we are there to transport and to conduct the trip, document it and let billing sort it out. I feel the current employers feelings on it set some unsuspecting patient up to get a bill they may have not expected. Anyone ever run in to this problem??