Edgar Co. – (ECWd) –
The Northern Edgar County Ambulance Service is on shaky ground with their Medical Director, Michael Smith MD FAEMS.
A recent letter sent to the NECAS outlines patient care concerns and points to it being an ongoing problem. The Medical Director who has oversight over NECAS as a provider in their system has made it crystal clear their options are limited.
Reading the letter may well point to a lawyer’s dream; documented failure to meet the appropriate medical standard to include a major deviation from current ILS care under the Region 6 Sepsis protocol. Although the letter points to one specific patient care incident, it does make it clear there is a past pattern of patient care deficiencies over the last year. I’m sure the people and their families using this ambulance service will take interest in the letter.
As we understand at the time of our reporting, NECAS is still operating at an Intermediate level of service (ILS). Looking at the options provided in the letter by Carle Hospital, it would appear NECAS has taken option #1 which permits them to operate at the ILS level for 30 days and they are required to find another system to sponsor them.
During the last meeting, the Board of trustees for the NECAS issued pay raises although there was nothing on the agenda pertaining to such action as required by law. Even though they were informed of the deficiency, they chose to vote anyway.
You can download the letter at this link or read below.
Letter from Carle to NECAS
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