Letter: Whitfield should look at other EMS options

Published 12:01 am Monday, March 27, 2017

A few years back, Whitfield County considered awarding its ambulance contract to another company besides Whitfield EMS, a part of Hamilton Health Care System, due to questionable service and costs. In the end, the commissioners decided to keep Whitfield EMS in spite of these issues.

I encourage the commissioners to reconsider a firm other than Hamilton’s EMS for better service and hospital competition.

My 86-year-old mother-in-law, who was suffering from pancreatic cancer, needed hospital treatment for immense pain and suffering. She was being cared for by a hospice group that operates in Whitfield, but does not have a contract with Hamilton, but rather Murray Medical Center. Her hospice called the non-emergency 911 number to have her transported.

The Dalton Fire Department responded immediately and a Whitfield EMS ambulance arrived afterwards. They worked together and loaded my mother-in-law onto a gurney. When we wanted to confirm they were going to Murray Medical Center, the Whitfield EMS driver told us they could not transport her anywhere but Hamilton hospital by policy and he confirmed this with his supervisor. They then moved my mother-in-law back into her hospital bed and left. The Dalton firemen said this is the first time they have ever known them to refuse to transport someone.

Fortunately, Murray Medical sent an ambulance and she is receiving the care she needs.

Our county and its citizens deserve better ambulance service than this.

John Carmichael

Dalton

P.S.: My mother-in-law passed away peacefully at Murray Medical Center earlier this month. Many thanks to Amedisys Hospice, Murray Medical Center and the Dalton Fire Department for their caring support.

Hamilton EMS responds: Thank you for your letter. Due to federal privacy regulations applicable to health care providers, we are unable to respond to the specific concerns raised in your letter. If you and your spouse would like to discuss your concerns in detail, please contact us at (706) 226-3003.

Where a call comes through the 911 Center, our teams respond in a designated emergency mode based on the information provided by the 911 Center to EMS. We try to abide by a patient’s choice for transport unless a patient’s health would be jeopardized by not transporting to the closest health care facility offering the appropriate level of care. We do not refuse to treat or transport patients to an appropriate facility; however, the patient or the patient’s representative can refuse transport.

Our EMS professionals have dedicated their lives to serving the residents of their community. The safety and well-being of those they serve will always be the highest priority.