9:43 AM: Thanks to Danny Lean for the photo. According to the dispatch log, that car-on-side crash on California south of Stevens happened around 5:15 am. No medic unit sent, which indicates no major injuries – SFD dispatched only an engine – but a private ambulance was sent, so we are following up with SFD.
2:54 PM: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo says a 23-year-old woman was treated at the scene, and declined to be taken to a hospital.
Info from witness: two females in the suv. Had to kick out windshield to exit vehicle.
There was no heavy-rescue/extrication dispatch, which does indeed mean everyone got out unasisted.
Just wondering. When its a “private ambulance” , is that when you later get a bill for something like $40,000?
The city contracts with AMR to provide transport for all BLS (basic life support) patients, meaning they do not require Paramedic attention and instead can be managed by an EMT, as well as any ALS (advanced life support) patients that the paramedics (or if they’re never called, the EMT level fire crew) deem soThe current contracted rate is $1,815+$25.96/mile which means this trip, had it gone to Harborview, would cost about $2100 before insurance. For this cost, you receive the same level of care the Fire Fighters provide (minus the ability to transport), a hugely delayed wait due to staffing and systemic inefficiencies that would make an Uber quicker, an agency that purposely remains out-of-network with major insurances to recoup more costs, ~400 EMTs who are priced out of living in Seattle, exploited for their labor, wait for calls on the street corner in their old, barely functioning ambulance, don’t receive in any galaxy the same benefits of a public employee that 80% of their work is the same job minus transporting, and ZERO upward career mobility. This results in insane turnover (~400 EMTS every 3 years) and no culture or skillful employees grown to better serve YOU. On top of all of this, your tax dollars already fund a HUGE fire department that can’t be bothered to actually do the majority of its job (EMS) well or seriously and has fallen behind other EMS systems within the US.This system remains justified by the private agency by saying this job is a stepping stone. However, I cannot think of a single person who finds it acceptable to have a stepping stone working on their friends and family. This system remains justified by the Fire Department because it keeps Fire Fighters well paid, not over worked, and keeps funding rolling for $1M fire engines every year
Wow, you are wrong on so many levels. I honestly don’t even know where to start. But hey, congrats, people heard you. You have obviously worked for AMR at some point, tested for one or all of the local Departments and were never hired and remain in a state of denial/frustration. Good luck to you.
wsaturtle. You can refuse to go to the hospital but unless you’re critical SFD will NOT take you. They call for an ambulance-patient has no say. They want to keep the medic units available. Most insurance pays. My only knowledge of costs come from my dad who needed to be moved from Swedish’s er on 15th around the corner to Cherry Hill. This was @18 years ago. The bill to medicare for the @ 2 block move was $1,800. I’m betting it’s WAY more now.
Mr Flippy, have you been keeping track? Are you out there, Mr. Flippy?
Sorry, comment time is over.
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