| Posted: Mon Apr 20th, 2009 03:46 pm |
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1st Post |
polkMEDIC
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As a citizen and employee of Polk County, I feel it is my duty to inform the people that our Polk County Board of Commissioner’s are considering extending a call for bids to area emergency medical service agencies for ambulance coverage in Polk County. We have been told that as of right now all of these talks are currently “under the table”, So as not to attract public attention. So in short order your ambulance service would be privatized by an outside agency, taking away your voice and mine as to how these services are provided.
I am a Polk County citizen, born and raised here in Cedartown, I was educated in Polk County schools. Now, after college, I am a full-time paramedic for Polk County Emergency Medical Services. I chose to work here because I wanted to protect the health and lives of the people in my community, my friends, family, and my wife and 3 children. Myself and many others at Polk E.M.S. have bled and sweat and even cried for those in our community that we could help and for those that we could not despite our best efforts. I have personally dedicated all of my talents and much of my time to helping those that could not help themselves whether it was because financial or physical inabilities and many times at a significant loss to myself and my family. I would never complain or regret extending myself to those in need because I believe it to be my god-given duty to bring hope to the hopeless and inspire the uninspired, that is what the very definition of a paramedic is. At Polk E.M.S., it is our calling and our passion.
Many of us here have worked for other agencies in the past such as Floyd and Redmond ambulance services, and both agencies have wonderful EMT’s and paramedics, it is not my intention to be critical of any of these men and women or the Floyd and Redmond organizations. I am not a politician nor a businessman, But I do believe that privatization of our ambulance service by an outside organization is a bad idea. I do not believe the “pro’s will outweigh the cons” per se, if Floyd, Redmond, or other agency becomes the new ambulance provider in our county. Opponents of my opinion in this matter might say that I am trying to defend my job, and they would be right, But consider that I could have also worked for many other agencies making better wages with better funding for equipment and training etc. I chose to be with my hometown ambulance service.
Myself, As well as others hold our County Commissioner’s in the highest regard and understand that they have a tough job and have to make difficult choices. This is one choice that we at Polk E.M.S. will not standby silently and watch unfold.
My name is George Oxenreider and I am proud to be a Polk County paramedic, but for how much longer may ultimately be decided by the citizens of Polk County.
Sincerely,
George Oxenreider, EMT-Paramedic
Polk County Emergency Medical Services
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20th, 2009 07:38 pm |
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2nd Post |
FRL88
Super Moderator
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well said George. Stand up for what is right.
____________________
Change this, Obama!!!!!
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20th, 2009 08:02 pm |
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3rd Post |
| Posted: Mon Apr 20th, 2009 10:48 pm |
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4th Post |
Street Medic
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My phone has been ringing about this under the table thing to outsource the EMS service by "FLoyd, Redmond, etc." I am also a Paramedic at Polk EMS. Polk County EMS has Paramedics and EMT's that were born and raised in and around Polk County. Yes, people may ask if I like working here, the answer is Yes, I like working here and for the people of polk county since August 2006. The people really need to stand up, as I understand this tried to happen several years ago and it was stopped due to the people standing up for what they believed in. Yes, I am looking at other places to work, but it is because of the uncertainty of what is going on at Polk County and the experience I might gain at the other services. How many private services will allow an ambulance with two employees to stay on scene to help comfort the family of one who has passed, or to be able to go back to check on patients as needed, even if they are not called. Yes, I do stop by to check on patients that have had a traumatic experience or the loss of a loved one. Do I check on them all? No, I cannot, but I can say that this would be stopped as would other personal touches with a private service. I'm not the only one who does this, there are others that do this too. Those of us that do, feel like it is part of our duty. Like George, I am not saying anything bad about Floyd or Redmond, as they are both excellent services. But, do you really want to lose the say so in your EMS service. All of you that are looking at this post that have stopped and thanked us for the job we do at Polk EMS, please get on the phone or go by the Commissioner's office and let them know how you feel about this. If you do not excercise your right to speak now, it might be out of your hands to speak up later. Think about it and more importantly, call your Commissioner and let them hear your voice.
Sincerely, Andy A. Gentry, NREMTP
Paramedic, Polk County Emergency Medical Services.
Last edited on Mon Apr 20th, 2009 10:58 pm by Street Medic
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20th, 2009 11:57 pm |
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5th Post |
| Posted: Tue Apr 21st, 2009 12:06 am |
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6th Post |
Spice
Super Moderator
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From some of the things I have read, they are probably thinking it would be cheaper then keeping enough personnel to cover the private service. Perhaps all of you need to attend the next commission meeting and bring up the issue.
If you want people to call the commissioners, then you probably should post this information on all local message boards and even in the news paper. Those who do not know about it, are not going to call. I may be way off base here and if I am, I apologize, but you guys put so much care into your work that it should not be taken away at the whim of the commission. You need to reach the public with this information.
I certainly wish all of you the best of luck, you have earned it.
____________________
“War does not determine who is right - only who is left” Bertrand Russell
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| Posted: Tue Apr 21st, 2009 01:15 am |
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7th Post |
Medic 6063
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I too work for Polk County EMS and I am proud to say we have a very good county owned ambulance service. The citizen's of Polk County need's to contact there county commisioner's and voice there opinion about this issue. I grew up in Polk County and most of the people that work there also grew up within the county. The ambulance service has done many things for the citizens and still today provides a service to the taxpaying citizens of this county. We need to stay county owned and the help of the public can make this happen. Several people have spent most of there career here working for this service and to see it handed over to a private service would not be a good move for the citizen's. You can ask anyone who lives in the county and has had to call upon us for help that they were glad to see us. Most of the time we know the patient first hand and also everyone here knows the territory because our roots are here in Polk County. Sure we could make more money working for someone else but the atmosphere here and the citizen's we serve makes this a enjoyable place to work. There is alot of things we have done that most citizens never here like going to help the elderly up out of the floor in the middle of the night or just sating there talking to a person who has just lost a love one or like at christmas time where everyone pitched in money to make a unfortunate kids christmas happen because the family did not have the money....This is the kind of people you get with a county ambulance service there are too many things to mention that we do off record just ask people around the county. A month or two ago a Polk County ambulance was requested to help with the Bekhart Steel Haz-Mat incident but did Polk EMS get any recognition...I do not remember seeing anything in the news about Polk County helping. None of us here at Polk Ems are pointing finger's at anyone we just think the best thing for the citizen's is to stay a county service and not privatize. So we ask the taxpayer's to speak up and help keep your ambulance service.
Chad Hendrix - Polk County Ems Paramedic
Proudly serving the citizens of Polk County for 12 Years!
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| Posted: Tue Apr 21st, 2009 03:44 am |
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8th Post |
GeorgiaGirl
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I remember you guys helping at the bekhart spill and I had a son at Coosa Valley Tech at the time of that spill. I remember the team work of Floyd and Polk County and yes you should be recognized. I personally as a parent do want to say Thank you for your help. You did a great job! Because of your quick response my son got home safe and sound. I heard on the Scanner at first that you guys had been called in to assist however I do remember reading somewhere that ya'll had assisted... Maybe it was on RN-t or maybe even here.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 21st, 2009 06:34 pm |
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9th Post |
traumaman11
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well all we have suspected is true folks we have to act faster than the news wire this is going to happen fast once the motion is set foward we have got to get it to the public fast as possible or all our jobs could be on the line it has done been stated that a certian department head from floyd ems would pick and choose who he wants to keep you all know as i do that would be 99% of polk ems gone we all need to get together and act now
polk county
emt
i love my service
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| Posted: Tue Apr 21st, 2009 06:51 pm |
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10th Post |
concerncitizen
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Has the county commission already decided on an ambulance service. Is this situation not public record. If they have made a decision when is it going to be made public.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 21st, 2009 08:01 pm |
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11th Post |
polkMEDIC
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It has not been decided yet because it has to be decided in an open meeting and voted on by all commissioners. However, they have had their private meetings today and each presented their proposal to the county manager and assistant manager as well as two commissioners.
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| Posted: Wed Apr 22nd, 2009 02:30 am |
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12th Post |
| Posted: Wed Apr 22nd, 2009 04:58 pm |
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13th Post |
lilybug43
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Assistant County Manager Matt Denton walking to meeting at Redmond
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| Posted: Wed Apr 22nd, 2009 04:59 pm |
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14th Post |
| Posted: Wed Apr 22nd, 2009 05:01 pm |
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15th Post |
lilybug43
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Marshall Thaxton leaving the meeting with Redmond
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those b*****ds!!!!