traumacare wrote on Oct 11, 2008 4:31 PM:
" insightful1 makes a very good point. The council should not be making a committee for a decision like this. Not only does the mayor have harndin and the others in his back pocket, but please can the city just listen to the people, the onlys information that is present is from La Crosse fire, all of Tri State's info is clear as day on their website! "
Insightful1 wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:34 PM:
" This situation in no way should be reviewed by a Committee of the City Council. Is this not a job for the knowedgable people on the soon to be formed County EMS Commission? Or, at the very least, the City should outsource the review to an EMS expert. The council members are too close to this issue and not EMS experts. "
Insightful1 wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:32 PM:
" Saywhat - For September 2008, Tri-State arrived at the same time or BEFORE the La Crosse Fire Department 47% of the time. Visit Tri-State's web site or call them and they will provide you with the data to support that fact. "
dumas wrote on Oct 10, 2008 4:03 PM:
" I'm wondering about the transport issues. Since I'd trust the city run service about as much as I'd trust Johnsrud, it begs the question of where the city would deliver patients. Would they only go to the hospital that is providing them the largest kickbacks? Seems Johnsrud and his merry band of idiots are always looking to screw over businesses for their benefit and that would be a way to turn the screws on the hospitals. Kick $$$ into the general fund or we will transport every patient to the other hospital.....See, others can spread lies too! "
Myturn wrote on Oct 10, 2008 1:42 PM:
" I have stated it before, and will repeat it once more, 'Patience'. The Referendum is almost here, patience. "
littletown wrote on Oct 10, 2008 12:25 PM:
" Seriously here, I am in the EMS field and even though TSA is thru GL, I know they dont "persuade" patients to be transported to GL. Yes GL is a level 2 trauma center and FSH is a level 3, if my life were at stake I would most definitely let the paramedics at TSA decide which hospital my injuries would be better treated at. They are professionals and they know what they are doing. I think it is ridiculous that the city wants to create a ambulance service at the tax-payers expense. Have they ever heard the phrase "If it aint broke, dont fix it"? "
Insider wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:59 AM:
" Is someone doing a petition to force a referendum on this issue and if so where can one sign it??? "
packer backer wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:42 AM:
" Tri-State is a highly professional service. Don't tell lies on here, please. If anyone wants a government run ambulance service in LAX, has to be either out of their mind, or is a firefighter that needs a job security. Ask yourself, why does the city council insult the fine citizens of Lacrosse, by saying that they know best, and not the people. My gosh, this is about "the people" as you can get. In many cases, life and death of the people that want it or not. Give us a referendum, and the people will say where to stick a government run ambulance service. I hear it is pretty dark there. "
transplant wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:31 AM:
" If the city gets the ambulance service, then we the taxpayers of La Crosse will be going through another "bailout" just like on Wall Street. Another example of bad government. "
Myturn wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:13 AM:
" This is an issue that this Administration has badly misjudged in regard to a 'City Ambulance Business'. Add to that, By the time this Referendum gets to April it will even be worse with the impending recession. People will not only not want to pay $1.2 million for 'ONE' Ambulance on the streets, they will not want to pay for one flower in the vase each morning of his $21.09 per hour 'starting' wage secretary! "
Myturn wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:08 AM:
" Lies, untruths, scare tactics, and falsehoods. BS is cheap and easy to spread. PLEASE attend these upcoming Informational Meetings. The Tribune will certainly not cover enough (that's a given), and you can only pick up so much with WIZM's Bruce coming in late and sticking a mic out for a few sound bites, and running home for his recliner. "
Darwin wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:58 AM:
" dfib, thanks for a great post - I have a couple of family members in different emergency services (not Tri-State) and they've told me the same thing you wrote. And no one I know in the "business" wants city ambulance service. "
dfib wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:36 AM:
" As a medic a Tri-State, I can honestly say WE DON'T "persuade" our patients to choose a hospital at all! To further elaborate on traumacare's statement. If a patient is unable to choose because they are unconscious they are take to the hospital that is medical control for the week. Even if a pt is a serious trauma patient they are given the choice. Usually the only reason we get diverted is if a required service not available. ie. CT scanner down, or no cardio-thoracic surgeon. "
Myturn wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:35 AM:
" Oh My- I don't believe you or your post as 'innocent', sorry. This is a fabricated issue, that we have not heard before, that I would doubt has any documentation as 'complaints'. This is really pretty simple, the Fireman have had their fire calls drop substansially throughout our nation. This is why they are attempting to expand their job description. To insure their numbers, and to retain Department budget numbers. Your question and 'response times' are the only hope they have. You keep picking at an area as if it had a scab, and there soon will be a scab forming. This is purposeful, a ruse, on our dime, and ultimately not needed. "
Oh My wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:25 AM:
" I don't want to pay for a city run ambulance service either. I think it is the WRONG thing to do. I'm just trying to figure out the real reason anyone would want to spend money on a 2nd ambulance service. My question is honestly just a question. Is it or is it not an issue? If Tri State tends to "persuade" patients to go to G-L, then THAT is the issue we should be discussing - NOT to spend more money on a 2nd ambulance service. "
traumacare wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:12 AM:
" All patients transported by Tri State Ambulance have the ability to determine what hospital they will be transported to.
Exceptions: Either Gunderson OR St. Francis are on diversion for certain patients due to overcrowding or equipment problems in the respective hospital. Also since Gunderson is the designated trauma center for the region (Level 2), ambulance crews can choose to transport a patient there for appropriate trauma care.
As a resident of the 7th street neighborhood, fire trucks going lights and siren constantly fly by my home and it concerns me. Is it really necessary for a heavy rescue or ladder truck to fly down the street and through stop signs? What about people who may "stumble" onto the street at night. Is it worth putting the public in jeopardy for the majority of EMS responses? "
Myturn wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:02 AM:
" Sadly, Mayor Johnsrud happens to have a majority of Council votes in his pocket. Although many times this majority does not vote what the residents of this town want, and there are a great number of us who believe that taxpayers do not want a 'City Ambulance Business'! That is why a referendum is on the way. It is so important for all residents to remember that this is the same Council that voted for a $15.9 million riverside project and they had not seen a set of Plans or Contract. Sold to us as 'emergency' needs for LHI growth, with a first floor 'Meeting Room, and '700' LHI employees next door in building One. None of which came near to fruition. "
Myturn wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:53 AM:
" The first two posters bring a new issue to the table at this time? This bunch are sad, relegated to 'problems?' that we have not heard before? They are ringers, sent to confuse. You can expect poor 'response times' as the next SCARE TACTIC, and you can add that to the list of 'no previous documented problems' as well. Taxpayers were given one public hearing, with terrible parking, and two minutes to hear any other alternative view. NOW we hear Council President Hardin "has proposed a fact-finding commission"? Of course he has, it is last minute damage control. The group of residents that have worked hard to sponsor a future referendum, and numerous public informational meetings are full speed ahead. With a public announcement to come soon, very soon. "
unpolitical_correctness wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:31 AM:
" Harnden said it right...time to step up and do what they're elected to do.
1) Sounds like a mayor wanna be -- Scary, another Johnsrud in the making!
2) He's all talk no brain. If he's going to do what he's elected to do...then he should be FIXING problems, not finding ways to raise taxes "
DJ: wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:28 AM:
" ... same song, second verse, a little bit louder, a whole lot worse... Will they ever learn? "
earl wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:14 AM:
" How many times are they gonna beat this dead horse? If the council wants to start an ambulance service they can take the start up and operating costs out of their own pockets. We can't afford more government! Take a look around people. Should we really be spending more money on a service that is already provided? If you think this is gonna be free or self sustaining you're nuts. Put this issue to vote. If the people want you to get this going we'll tell you. "
common-cents wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:14 AM:
" "saywhats" he's a fire dept employee.
Tri-state has had very few complaints. They do a great job and it does not add more to the bloated budgets of government.
The council needs to work on things that are broke and this is not one of them.
The council works like this, they stand around and argue about the taste of the water before they put the fire out,and by that time it's way to late. "
common-cents wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:05 AM:
" Can anyone get a clue here. Why is the council spending so much time on trying to add another layer of government on us. Fire chief Cleveland said that his last dept he headed had EMS service and it is public record that it cost taxpayers and extra $150,000 to subsidize it.
The city has NEVER ran surpluses in any dept.
I want the council to make much harder decisions on privatizing the cities services.
The private sector can do these services for a heck of a lot less.
The private sector watches the bottom line all the time. "
saywhat?!! wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:59 AM:
" Oh My....I do not have data on that but I do know that when we called an ambulance to take my dad to the hospital, we had to tell the paramedics 3 times that he is a patient at Franciscan Skemp. When the ambulance was ready to leave our house, they said that they would meet us at GL. We had to DEMAND that he be taken to Franciscan. I speak from first hand knowledge. That is just one instance!! How many more are there?? I am in favor of a city ambulance service. Firefighters are almost always first at the scene. "
Oh My wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:50 AM:
" Since Tri-State is part of Gundersen, how many times in the last year or 2 have patients been taken to Gundersen rather than Franciscan Skemp IF the patient wanted to go to Franciscan Skemp? Do we have any data on that? Is this part of the issue? "
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