Sioux Falls, S.D. (KELO AM) - Paramedics Plus will receive its contracted fee increase for the upcoming year after the city council voted 7-1 in favor of the hike. While the council was contractually obligated to approve the measure, Pat Starr did break stride and proved the lone objection.
During the discussion of the matter Council Chair Rick Kiley passionately objected to what he called "misinformation" circulated regarding ambulance response time and performance in the city. "This contract is not poorly written, this is possibly the most transparent contract the city of Sioux Falls has ever had with an ambulance provider." He went on to say that some comparisons made to previous providers are unfair, given the fines that are written into the current deal that didn't exist in previous contracts.
Vice Chair Christine Erickson was equally as passionate in her input, saying Paramedics Plus has checked all the boxes and has earned the raise. "There are standards, there are exemptions, and that stinks. I really don't even like to think that one of those exemptions could be you or I or anyone that we know. But that's the way it works." She went on to give a full vote of confidence to all aspects of the city's EMS System.
The city's contract with Paramedics Plus has several details copied right out of what's seen as the national handbook for ambulance service, according to Councilor Greg Neitzert. "It's a thick manual, and it's essentially a best practices document of how to run an ambulance service. I read that, and then I read our contract. Littered thought that contract is all of these things that they talk about as best practices; and we've implemented those things."
In the past three months, Paramedics Plus has had its image tainted by stories of slow response times and patients driving themselves to the ER because no ambulance was available. Many on the council called those stories isolated incidents, adding that in the big picture the company has gotten it right more often than not.
