Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

[Guest guest]

The supervisor was LaPorte EMS, the medics were BayStar. THe BayStar supervisor

didn't arrive until after the medic was arrested. But, you do ask good

questions.

" Crosby, E " wrote: Seems that way to

me as well. As I mentioned before, why

couldn't this supervisor supervise these Baystar medics to make sure

they didn't do anything out of sorts until his medics arrived to take

over? This is under the assumption (cringe) that this supervisor was

totally unequipped (meaning medical equipment wise, not mental) to deal

with an emergency. Not meaning to offend, but this whole thing sounds

like a massive Charlie Fox (anybody who doesn't know what that means,

e-mail me off list for the potty mouth version).

I never heard back from Baystar. Anybody hear of the medical

status of the medic or any update on the initial patient? Then again,

if the lawyers are starting to circle down there, we might not hear

anything for a while I'd guess.

Crosby

EMT-B

Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

Silly me but I was wondering.........??

Why was the Supervisor standing in the road and NOT providing care, if

his service was the correct agency... Seems abandonment for no

treatment?? Just wondering..

EMT-I

________________________________________________________________________________\

_____

This email and its attachments, if any, are intended for the personal use of the

named recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged, or proprietary

information. If you are not a named recipient, or an agent responsible for

delivering it to a named recipient, you have received this email in error. In

that event, please (a) immediately notify me by reply email, ( do not review,

copy, save, forward, or print this email or any of its attachments, and ©

immediately delete and/or destroy this email and its attachments and all

electronic and physical copies thereof. Thank you.

________________________________________________________________________________\

_____

[Guest guest]

" I don't care who ya are, that's funny right there. "

" E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP " wrote:

I'll settle this once and for all:

1. Do away with any city/county-operated or -sponsored ambulance

service--make everything free market.

2. Have the crews monitoring scanners.

3. When a call comes in, each service can rush to the scene. The helicopter

services can respond too. This assures a good response time. The services

with bigger motors and fastest vehicles will get there the fastest thus

further decreasing the response times. Out-of-work NASCAR drivers (those

still alive) can drive the ambulances.

4. Whoever gets their first gets the patient and gets to determine who gets

the remaining patients. The attendant should be able to defend the scene

from rival services with chemical spray or a flame thrower.

5. Helicopters should also dispatch at the same time--the first on scene

transports. That will get rid of the slow Bell 206 models and everybody will

have speedy Agustas.

6. The helicopters should be armed so that the slower helicopters have a

chance by shooting the faster ones out of the sky.

7. Since there is no subsidy, we will keep training and equipment to a

minimum--horizontal transport--that is all we need--maybe some oxygen.

8. Ambulance services will hire former hockey players to assure they get the

patient in case two ambulances arrive at the same time.

9. Don't send the fire trucks--they get in the way. Besides, these ambulance

calls have ruined more than one exciting game of dominos.

10. No need for medical control. Docs such as me can get those good jobs at

the STD clinics.

11. The patients should be transported as quickly as possible to the closest

hospital regardless. If the patient has the cash, they can pay their way

later to Saint Elsewhere where Dr. Goldberg can take care of them.

12. Thus, no need for SSM, PUMS, CISM--just RPMs.

13. Set up a kickback system with the wrecker drivers.

14. It is all good.

15. Did I miss anything?

E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP

Midlothian, Texas

Don't miss the Western States EMS Cruise!

http://proemseducators.com/index.html

_____

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of mpmedics

Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 11:32 AM

To:

Subject: Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

We, as a City, have the right to " direct the public health of our

citizens " and by rights, that means that we have the right to control

who may come into our city to pick up our patients and who may not.

We have a permitting process within our City, established by ordinance

by the City Commission. Any provider may come into our City and

request to be permitted and we are happy to do the inspections and

permit the service. I don't believe we even charge for our permits.

(I may be wrong so don't quote me on this yet) We are not after

money, we are after properly stocked and manned EMS units treating our

citizens. We can also ban certain departments or services from

entering our city to pick up patients if we feel as though it would

not be safe for our citizens.

> > > the citation. The PD garbed his arm and he jerked

> > > away, then PD preceeded to take him down to the ground

> > > for resisting arrest ... after that I didn't hear the

> > > rest of the story becuase I was dispatched to another

> > > call.

> >

> > Case law requires an actual & quot;act in furtherance of & quot; to get

> > resisting.

> > Maybe they actually charged him with interference with official

> > duties?

> >

> > Mike

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

" I don't care who ya are, that's funny right there. "

" E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP " wrote:

I'll settle this once and for all:

1. Do away with any city/county-operated or -sponsored ambulance

service--make everything free market.

2. Have the crews monitoring scanners.

3. When a call comes in, each service can rush to the scene. The helicopter

services can respond too. This assures a good response time. The services

with bigger motors and fastest vehicles will get there the fastest thus

further decreasing the response times. Out-of-work NASCAR drivers (those

still alive) can drive the ambulances.

4. Whoever gets their first gets the patient and gets to determine who gets

the remaining patients. The attendant should be able to defend the scene

from rival services with chemical spray or a flame thrower.

5. Helicopters should also dispatch at the same time--the first on scene

transports. That will get rid of the slow Bell 206 models and everybody will

have speedy Agustas.

6. The helicopters should be armed so that the slower helicopters have a

chance by shooting the faster ones out of the sky.

7. Since there is no subsidy, we will keep training and equipment to a

minimum--horizontal transport--that is all we need--maybe some oxygen.

8. Ambulance services will hire former hockey players to assure they get the

patient in case two ambulances arrive at the same time.

9. Don't send the fire trucks--they get in the way. Besides, these ambulance

calls have ruined more than one exciting game of dominos.

10. No need for medical control. Docs such as me can get those good jobs at

the STD clinics.

11. The patients should be transported as quickly as possible to the closest

hospital regardless. If the patient has the cash, they can pay their way

later to Saint Elsewhere where Dr. Goldberg can take care of them.

12. Thus, no need for SSM, PUMS, CISM--just RPMs.

13. Set up a kickback system with the wrecker drivers.

14. It is all good.

15. Did I miss anything?

E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP

Midlothian, Texas

Don't miss the Western States EMS Cruise!

http://proemseducators.com/index.html

_____

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of mpmedics

Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 11:32 AM

To:

Subject: Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

We, as a City, have the right to " direct the public health of our

citizens " and by rights, that means that we have the right to control

who may come into our city to pick up our patients and who may not.

We have a permitting process within our City, established by ordinance

by the City Commission. Any provider may come into our City and

request to be permitted and we are happy to do the inspections and

permit the service. I don't believe we even charge for our permits.

(I may be wrong so don't quote me on this yet) We are not after

money, we are after properly stocked and manned EMS units treating our

citizens. We can also ban certain departments or services from

entering our city to pick up patients if we feel as though it would

not be safe for our citizens.

> > > the citation. The PD garbed his arm and he jerked

> > > away, then PD preceeded to take him down to the ground

> > > for resisting arrest ... after that I didn't hear the

> > > rest of the story becuase I was dispatched to another

> > > call.

> >

> > Case law requires an actual & quot;act in furtherance of & quot; to get

> > resisting.

> > Maybe they actually charged him with interference with official

> > duties?

> >

> > Mike

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

" I don't care who ya are, that's funny right there. "

" E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP " wrote:

I'll settle this once and for all:

1. Do away with any city/county-operated or -sponsored ambulance

service--make everything free market.

2. Have the crews monitoring scanners.

3. When a call comes in, each service can rush to the scene. The helicopter

services can respond too. This assures a good response time. The services

with bigger motors and fastest vehicles will get there the fastest thus

further decreasing the response times. Out-of-work NASCAR drivers (those

still alive) can drive the ambulances.

4. Whoever gets their first gets the patient and gets to determine who gets

the remaining patients. The attendant should be able to defend the scene

from rival services with chemical spray or a flame thrower.

5. Helicopters should also dispatch at the same time--the first on scene

transports. That will get rid of the slow Bell 206 models and everybody will

have speedy Agustas.

6. The helicopters should be armed so that the slower helicopters have a

chance by shooting the faster ones out of the sky.

7. Since there is no subsidy, we will keep training and equipment to a

minimum--horizontal transport--that is all we need--maybe some oxygen.

8. Ambulance services will hire former hockey players to assure they get the

patient in case two ambulances arrive at the same time.

9. Don't send the fire trucks--they get in the way. Besides, these ambulance

calls have ruined more than one exciting game of dominos.

10. No need for medical control. Docs such as me can get those good jobs at

the STD clinics.

11. The patients should be transported as quickly as possible to the closest

hospital regardless. If the patient has the cash, they can pay their way

later to Saint Elsewhere where Dr. Goldberg can take care of them.

12. Thus, no need for SSM, PUMS, CISM--just RPMs.

13. Set up a kickback system with the wrecker drivers.

14. It is all good.

15. Did I miss anything?

E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP

Midlothian, Texas

Don't miss the Western States EMS Cruise!

http://proemseducators.com/index.html

_____

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of mpmedics

Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 11:32 AM

To:

Subject: Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

We, as a City, have the right to " direct the public health of our

citizens " and by rights, that means that we have the right to control

who may come into our city to pick up our patients and who may not.

We have a permitting process within our City, established by ordinance

by the City Commission. Any provider may come into our City and

request to be permitted and we are happy to do the inspections and

permit the service. I don't believe we even charge for our permits.

(I may be wrong so don't quote me on this yet) We are not after

money, we are after properly stocked and manned EMS units treating our

citizens. We can also ban certain departments or services from

entering our city to pick up patients if we feel as though it would

not be safe for our citizens.

> > > the citation. The PD garbed his arm and he jerked

> > > away, then PD preceeded to take him down to the ground

> > > for resisting arrest ... after that I didn't hear the

> > > rest of the story becuase I was dispatched to another

> > > call.

> >

> > Case law requires an actual & quot;act in furtherance of & quot; to get

> > resisting.

> > Maybe they actually charged him with interference with official

> > duties?

> >

> > Mike

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I was talking about the La Porte EMS supervisor. I mean why

couldn't the guy (oomph, another assumption) say something like " I know

you guys don't work for me, but since we have this permit thing hanging

over our heads I'm going to supervise your care till our city medics

show up so we can get this patient taken care of and transported. It's

not that I think you don't know your jobs, but I have an obligation to

the folks of this city to make sure things go well, ok? " .

That would seem reasonable to me.

Crosby

EMT-B

Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

Silly me but I was wondering.........??

Why was the Supervisor standing in the road and NOT providing care, if

his service was the correct agency... Seems abandonment for no

treatment?? Just wondering..

EMT-I

________________________________________________________________________

_____________

This email and its attachments, if any, are intended for the personal

use of the named recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged,

or proprietary information. If you are not a named recipient, or an

agent responsible for delivering it to a named recipient, you have

received this email in error. In that event, please (a) immediately

notify me by reply email, ( do not review, copy, save, forward, or

print this email or any of its attachments, and © immediately delete

and/or destroy this email and its attachments and all electronic and

physical copies thereof. Thank you.

________________________________________________________________________

_____________

[Guest guest]

I was talking about the La Porte EMS supervisor. I mean why

couldn't the guy (oomph, another assumption) say something like " I know

you guys don't work for me, but since we have this permit thing hanging

over our heads I'm going to supervise your care till our city medics

show up so we can get this patient taken care of and transported. It's

not that I think you don't know your jobs, but I have an obligation to

the folks of this city to make sure things go well, ok? " .

That would seem reasonable to me.

Crosby

EMT-B

Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

Silly me but I was wondering.........??

Why was the Supervisor standing in the road and NOT providing care, if

his service was the correct agency... Seems abandonment for no

treatment?? Just wondering..

EMT-I

________________________________________________________________________

_____________

This email and its attachments, if any, are intended for the personal

use of the named recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged,

or proprietary information. If you are not a named recipient, or an

agent responsible for delivering it to a named recipient, you have

received this email in error. In that event, please (a) immediately

notify me by reply email, ( do not review, copy, save, forward, or

print this email or any of its attachments, and © immediately delete

and/or destroy this email and its attachments and all electronic and

physical copies thereof. Thank you.

________________________________________________________________________

_____________

[Guest guest]

I was talking about the La Porte EMS supervisor. I mean why

couldn't the guy (oomph, another assumption) say something like " I know

you guys don't work for me, but since we have this permit thing hanging

over our heads I'm going to supervise your care till our city medics

show up so we can get this patient taken care of and transported. It's

not that I think you don't know your jobs, but I have an obligation to

the folks of this city to make sure things go well, ok? " .

That would seem reasonable to me.

Crosby

EMT-B

Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

Silly me but I was wondering.........??

Why was the Supervisor standing in the road and NOT providing care, if

his service was the correct agency... Seems abandonment for no

treatment?? Just wondering..

EMT-I

________________________________________________________________________

_____________

This email and its attachments, if any, are intended for the personal

use of the named recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged,

or proprietary information. If you are not a named recipient, or an

agent responsible for delivering it to a named recipient, you have

received this email in error. In that event, please (a) immediately

notify me by reply email, ( do not review, copy, save, forward, or

print this email or any of its attachments, and © immediately delete

and/or destroy this email and its attachments and all electronic and

physical copies thereof. Thank you.

________________________________________________________________________

_____________

[Guest guest]

I guess this here list aint a Yahoo group for nuthin'.

RE: Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La

Porte

" I don't care who ya are, that's funny right there. "

" E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP " wrote:

I'll settle this once and for all:

________________________________________________________________________________\

_____

This email and its attachments, if any, are intended for the personal use of the

named recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged, or proprietary

information. If you are not a named recipient, or an agent responsible for

delivering it to a named recipient, you have received this email in error. In

that event, please (a) immediately notify me by reply email, ( do not review,

copy, save, forward, or print this email or any of its attachments, and ©

immediately delete and/or destroy this email and its attachments and all

electronic and physical copies thereof. Thank you.

________________________________________________________________________________\

_____

[Guest guest]

I guess this here list aint a Yahoo group for nuthin'.

RE: Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La

Porte

" I don't care who ya are, that's funny right there. "

" E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP " wrote:

I'll settle this once and for all:

________________________________________________________________________________\

_____

This email and its attachments, if any, are intended for the personal use of the

named recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged, or proprietary

information. If you are not a named recipient, or an agent responsible for

delivering it to a named recipient, you have received this email in error. In

that event, please (a) immediately notify me by reply email, ( do not review,

copy, save, forward, or print this email or any of its attachments, and ©

immediately delete and/or destroy this email and its attachments and all

electronic and physical copies thereof. Thank you.

________________________________________________________________________________\

_____

[Guest guest]

I guess this here list aint a Yahoo group for nuthin'.

RE: Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La

Porte

" I don't care who ya are, that's funny right there. "

" E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP " wrote:

I'll settle this once and for all:

________________________________________________________________________________\

_____

This email and its attachments, if any, are intended for the personal use of the

named recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged, or proprietary

information. If you are not a named recipient, or an agent responsible for

delivering it to a named recipient, you have received this email in error. In

that event, please (a) immediately notify me by reply email, ( do not review,

copy, save, forward, or print this email or any of its attachments, and ©

immediately delete and/or destroy this email and its attachments and all

electronic and physical copies thereof. Thank you.

________________________________________________________________________________\

_____

[Guest guest]

Ah, I was thinking more elementally, the way you phrased the questions.

I live in the area, and there are strengths and weaknesses enough around. Who

knows... it will eventually all come out in the wash and hopefully get

straightened out.

" Crosby, E " wrote:

I was talking about the La Porte EMS supervisor. I mean why

couldn't the guy (oomph, another assumption) say something like " I know

you guys don't work for me, but since we have this permit thing hanging

over our heads I'm going to supervise your care till our city medics

show up so we can get this patient taken care of and transported. It's

not that I think you don't know your jobs, but I have an obligation to

the folks of this city to make sure things go well, ok? " .

That would seem reasonable to me.

Crosby

EMT-B

Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

Silly me but I was wondering.........??

Why was the Supervisor standing in the road and NOT providing care, if

his service was the correct agency... Seems abandonment for no

treatment?? Just wondering..

EMT-I

________________________________________________________________________

_____________

This email and its attachments, if any, are intended for the personal

use of the named recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged,

or proprietary information. If you are not a named recipient, or an

agent responsible for delivering it to a named recipient, you have

received this email in error. In that event, please (a) immediately

notify me by reply email, ( do not review, copy, save, forward, or

print this email or any of its attachments, and © immediately delete

and/or destroy this email and its attachments and all electronic and

physical copies thereof. Thank you.

________________________________________________________________________

_____________

[Guest guest]

,

Can one abandon a patient, a person, a scene or a situation if they have not

engaged the same?

Neglect, maybe.......

bkw

Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

> Silly me but I was wondering.........??

> Why was the Supervisor standing in the road and NOT providing care, if

> his service was the correct agency... Seems abandonment for no

> treatment?? Just wondering..

> EMT-I

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

No problem. I'm more into inter-agency co-operation when it

comes to getting folks the help they need. I guess that comes from

having done the first response thing for a VFD that has coverage that

crossed city limit and county lines. I have seen such utter stupidity

at times about who crosses what line. I was very glad to see the mutual

aid agreements hammered out a few years back.

Anyway, sorry about the confusion on my way of phrasing things,

I'll try and be a little more plain.

Crosby

EMT-B

Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

Silly me but I was wondering.........??

Why was the Supervisor standing in the road and NOT providing care, if

his service was the correct agency... Seems abandonment for no

treatment?? Just wondering..

EMT-I

________________________________________________________________________

_____________

This email and its attachments, if any, are intended for the personal

use of the named recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged,

or proprietary information. If you are not a named recipient, or an

agent responsible for delivering it to a named recipient, you have

received this email in error. In that event, please (a) immediately

notify me by reply email, ( do not review, copy, save, forward, or

print this email or any of its attachments, and © immediately delete

and/or destroy this email and its attachments and all electronic and

physical copies thereof. Thank you.

________________________________________________________________________

_____________

[Guest guest]

No problem. I'm more into inter-agency co-operation when it

comes to getting folks the help they need. I guess that comes from

having done the first response thing for a VFD that has coverage that

crossed city limit and county lines. I have seen such utter stupidity

at times about who crosses what line. I was very glad to see the mutual

aid agreements hammered out a few years back.

Anyway, sorry about the confusion on my way of phrasing things,

I'll try and be a little more plain.

Crosby

EMT-B

Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

Silly me but I was wondering.........??

Why was the Supervisor standing in the road and NOT providing care, if

his service was the correct agency... Seems abandonment for no

treatment?? Just wondering..

EMT-I

________________________________________________________________________

_____________

This email and its attachments, if any, are intended for the personal

use of the named recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged,

or proprietary information. If you are not a named recipient, or an

agent responsible for delivering it to a named recipient, you have

received this email in error. In that event, please (a) immediately

notify me by reply email, ( do not review, copy, save, forward, or

print this email or any of its attachments, and © immediately delete

and/or destroy this email and its attachments and all electronic and

physical copies thereof. Thank you.

________________________________________________________________________

_____________

[Guest guest]

No problem. I'm more into inter-agency co-operation when it

comes to getting folks the help they need. I guess that comes from

having done the first response thing for a VFD that has coverage that

crossed city limit and county lines. I have seen such utter stupidity

at times about who crosses what line. I was very glad to see the mutual

aid agreements hammered out a few years back.

Anyway, sorry about the confusion on my way of phrasing things,

I'll try and be a little more plain.

Crosby

EMT-B

Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

Silly me but I was wondering.........??

Why was the Supervisor standing in the road and NOT providing care, if

his service was the correct agency... Seems abandonment for no

treatment?? Just wondering..

EMT-I

________________________________________________________________________

_____________

This email and its attachments, if any, are intended for the personal

use of the named recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged,

or proprietary information. If you are not a named recipient, or an

agent responsible for delivering it to a named recipient, you have

received this email in error. In that event, please (a) immediately

notify me by reply email, ( do not review, copy, save, forward, or

print this email or any of its attachments, and © immediately delete

and/or destroy this email and its attachments and all electronic and

physical copies thereof. Thank you.

________________________________________________________________________

_____________

[Guest guest]

http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou051229_cd_ambulance.27e121a9.html

Paramedic injured in battle of ambulances in La Porte

10:24 PM CST on Thursday, December 29, 2005

By Wendell and Vicente Arenas / 11 News

Vicente Arenas' 10 p.m. report

Wendell ' 6 p.m. report

There was a disturbing story Thursday about what happened when one family needed

a transport to a local hospital, but ended with one paramedic arrested,

following a battle with a competing ambulance service.

When her ill father began to get worse La Porte resident Zwiercan called

for an ambulance to take him to the hospital.

" We called La Porte EMS for a non-emergency call to transport my father to the

hospital. The dispatcher told us that we would have to get a transport service, "

said Zwiercan.

So, they called Bay Star, a private ambulance service out of Baytown. The

company is not authorized, under a new ordinance, to answer emergency calls in

La Porte.

The city's EMS chief says the new rule is all about getting the right help at

the right time.

Because most of the lay public does not know the difference between an EMT and a

paramedic, they think an ambulance is an ambulance is ambulance.

" I was standing here at the end of my driveway and I was flagging down the

ambulances, " Zwiercan said.

The owner said they dispatched an ambulance even though they don't have

requirements to answer calls in La Porte.

" We have a duty to react. We tried to turn it over to La Porte. We offered it,

but they never said 'OK, stop', " said Bay Star owner .

KHOU-TV

Young, Bay Star paramedic.

La Porte EMS called Bay Star back.

11 News obtained an audio recording of that phone call.

La Porte Dispatch: " Hi Vera, this is Dave with La Porte police. Are you guys

coming out to Eagle Fork? "

Vera: " Yes " .

La Porte Dispatch: " OK, where is that? "

Vera: " Are y'all going? "

La Porte Dispatch: " Uh, no. My EMS supervisor is going to be out there, so he

wanted to know. "

Vera: " Oh, OK. "

But a La Porte ambulance showed up anyway. So did the La Porte police, who

stopped a Bay Star paramedic from responding to the patient.

" He was still cussing and using abusive language in a residential area. He was

not responding to the officer's request to calm down, and subsequently, the

officer advised him that he was under arrest for disorderly conduct, " said La

Porte police Chief Reff, " and when he went to arrest him, to take

custody of him, he began resisting. "

It was after that, 11 News was told, that some sort of altercation took place.

It happened between the La Porte police officer and that paramedic.

In the end, Bay Star employee Young was arrested and accused of resisting

arrest.

His attorney said his client suffered injuries, including a bruise to his

forehead. He says they will fight the charges.

Zwiercan said she couldn't believe all of this happened just because she made a

phone call just to help her father.

She said when she made that call, she asked what transport services she could

use and received a list from the La Porte dispatcher. On that list was Bay Star.

Dispatch said they did give her that number, but why they gave her the number of

a ambulance service company that doesn't have a permit in La Porte is unknown.

La Porte said that the minute Bay Star deemed the case to be an emergency, they

should have turned it over to them instead of going themselves.

When it was all over, Bay Star got fines instead of a patient, as he ended up

going in a La Porte ambulance.

Zwiercan's father is in stable condition in a local hospital.

[Guest guest]

http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou051229_cd_ambulance.27e121a9.html

Paramedic injured in battle of ambulances in La Porte

10:24 PM CST on Thursday, December 29, 2005

By Wendell and Vicente Arenas / 11 News

Vicente Arenas' 10 p.m. report

Wendell ' 6 p.m. report

There was a disturbing story Thursday about what happened when one family needed

a transport to a local hospital, but ended with one paramedic arrested,

following a battle with a competing ambulance service.

When her ill father began to get worse La Porte resident Zwiercan called

for an ambulance to take him to the hospital.

" We called La Porte EMS for a non-emergency call to transport my father to the

hospital. The dispatcher told us that we would have to get a transport service, "

said Zwiercan.

So, they called Bay Star, a private ambulance service out of Baytown. The

company is not authorized, under a new ordinance, to answer emergency calls in

La Porte.

The city's EMS chief says the new rule is all about getting the right help at

the right time.

Because most of the lay public does not know the difference between an EMT and a

paramedic, they think an ambulance is an ambulance is ambulance.

" I was standing here at the end of my driveway and I was flagging down the

ambulances, " Zwiercan said.

The owner said they dispatched an ambulance even though they don't have

requirements to answer calls in La Porte.

" We have a duty to react. We tried to turn it over to La Porte. We offered it,

but they never said 'OK, stop', " said Bay Star owner .

KHOU-TV

Young, Bay Star paramedic.

La Porte EMS called Bay Star back.

11 News obtained an audio recording of that phone call.

La Porte Dispatch: " Hi Vera, this is Dave with La Porte police. Are you guys

coming out to Eagle Fork? "

Vera: " Yes " .

La Porte Dispatch: " OK, where is that? "

Vera: " Are y'all going? "

La Porte Dispatch: " Uh, no. My EMS supervisor is going to be out there, so he

wanted to know. "

Vera: " Oh, OK. "

But a La Porte ambulance showed up anyway. So did the La Porte police, who

stopped a Bay Star paramedic from responding to the patient.

" He was still cussing and using abusive language in a residential area. He was

not responding to the officer's request to calm down, and subsequently, the

officer advised him that he was under arrest for disorderly conduct, " said La

Porte police Chief Reff, " and when he went to arrest him, to take

custody of him, he began resisting. "

It was after that, 11 News was told, that some sort of altercation took place.

It happened between the La Porte police officer and that paramedic.

In the end, Bay Star employee Young was arrested and accused of resisting

arrest.

His attorney said his client suffered injuries, including a bruise to his

forehead. He says they will fight the charges.

Zwiercan said she couldn't believe all of this happened just because she made a

phone call just to help her father.

She said when she made that call, she asked what transport services she could

use and received a list from the La Porte dispatcher. On that list was Bay Star.

Dispatch said they did give her that number, but why they gave her the number of

a ambulance service company that doesn't have a permit in La Porte is unknown.

La Porte said that the minute Bay Star deemed the case to be an emergency, they

should have turned it over to them instead of going themselves.

When it was all over, Bay Star got fines instead of a patient, as he ended up

going in a La Porte ambulance.

Zwiercan's father is in stable condition in a local hospital.

[Guest guest]

Preventing a medic from performing his duties?

________________________________

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Britton Waldron

Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 10:45 PM

To:

Subject: Re: Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La

Porte

,

Can one abandon a patient, a person, a scene or a situation if they have

not

engaged the same?

Neglect, maybe.......

bkw

Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

> Silly me but I was wondering.........??

> Why was the Supervisor standing in the road and NOT providing care, if

> his service was the correct agency... Seems abandonment for no

> treatment?? Just wondering..

> EMT-I

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Preventing a medic from performing his duties?

________________________________

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Britton Waldron

Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 10:45 PM

To:

Subject: Re: Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La

Porte

,

Can one abandon a patient, a person, a scene or a situation if they have

not

engaged the same?

Neglect, maybe.......

bkw

Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

> Silly me but I was wondering.........??

> Why was the Supervisor standing in the road and NOT providing care, if

> his service was the correct agency... Seems abandonment for no

> treatment?? Just wondering..

> EMT-I

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Preventing a medic from performing his duties?

________________________________

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Britton Waldron

Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 10:45 PM

To:

Subject: Re: Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La

Porte

,

Can one abandon a patient, a person, a scene or a situation if they have

not

engaged the same?

Neglect, maybe.......

bkw

Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

> Silly me but I was wondering.........??

> Why was the Supervisor standing in the road and NOT providing care, if

> his service was the correct agency... Seems abandonment for no

> treatment?? Just wondering..

> EMT-I

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

And like I said before...and this story only adds to it...this is a shame. No

two ways about it...this has done nothing but set EMS in that part of the state

(and across the nation as this story is making its rounds) because the truth

won't make the headlines and how this thing settles out might be a paragraph

blurb if that...

Who was right and who was wrong doesn't matter...we have all been sucker punched

in the eye over this one...

Dudley

Re: Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

Ah the plot begins to thicken.

As I said 20 versions by weeks end are likely, and as was said before the

truth is in the middle of all of those versions.

Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET

FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI

LNMolino@...

(Office)

(Office Fax)

" A Texan with a Jersey Attitude "

The comments contained in this E-mail are the opinions of the author and the

author alone. I in no way ever intend to speak for any person or

organization that I am in any way whatsoever involved or associated with unless

I

specifically state that I am doing so. Further this E-mail is intended only for

its

stated recipient and may contain private and or confidential materials

retransmission is strictly prohibited unless placed in the public domain by the

original author.

[Guest guest]

No winners in this gig. Dudley and Lou, you both put it well.

At least it sounds like the patient is improving; that is good news.

" The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but

because he loves what is behind him. " - GK Chesterton

---------------------------------

Yahoo! for Good - Make a difference this year.

[Guest guest]

No winners in this gig. Dudley and Lou, you both put it well.

At least it sounds like the patient is improving; that is good news.

" The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but

because he loves what is behind him. " - GK Chesterton

---------------------------------

Yahoo! for Good - Make a difference this year.

[Guest guest]

No winners in this gig. Dudley and Lou, you both put it well.

At least it sounds like the patient is improving; that is good news.

" The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but

because he loves what is behind him. " - GK Chesterton

---------------------------------

Yahoo! for Good - Make a difference this year.

[Guest guest]

There are enough mistakes here to go around.

Can we rewind a few days and have a do-over???

jack

_____

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Larry

Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 12:19 AM

To:

Subject: Re: Re: Baystar medic arrested at scene in La Porte

No winners in this gig. Dudley and Lou, you both put it well.

At least it sounds like the patient is improving; that is good news.

" The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but

because he loves what is behind him. " - GK Chesterton

---------------------------------

Yahoo! for Good - Make a difference this year.