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ao0K 78 FA'E <br />Commissioner Scurlock feared that the summer months will be <br />drastically below our average projection and felt now is the time <br />to start looking at consolidation. For example, on the Beach, <br />the ambulance station is right next to the Beach fire station, <br />and you could put that unit over in the fire station and <br />eliminate using one of the fire EMTs to go on the run. You, <br />therefore, are talking one person, and one person for 3 shifts is <br />3 people, and you consider that times 365 days in a year. He <br />felt that is the kind of thing we need to start looking at <br />aggressively so that we can better utilize our resources. <br />Director Wright commented that they have not disregarded <br />that option, but he submitted that any time you take from one and <br />give to the other, you are affecting the other side and you may <br />need additional staff there. He believed in terms of housing <br />there is some potential to reduce costs, and they are not <br />excluding that as an option. Director Wright assured the Board <br />that he gets weekly printouts of theALSbudget, and they are <br />giving it close and constant attention. <br />Commissioner Scurlock commented that we first were consid- <br />ering getting into this, we had considerable discussion and <br />controversy about ALS versus BLS and an indication that many <br />patients were receiving ALS treatment when there was no need for <br />it, which, of course, incurs additional charges. He felt we need <br />to have a balance and not just look at increasing revenues by <br />jacking the rate up because we think insurance is going to pay <br />for it. We don't want to have someone who only needs basic <br />transport to the hospital getting all these additional charges. <br />Commissioner Bird stated that is an area where he has some <br />concern also, and he concurred that we don't want to overtreat a <br />patient or give the appearance of overtreating someone just to <br />put it on the insurance company. <br />Commissioner Eggert pointed out that the run cost itself <br />does not include an I.V, or any other kind of invasive procedure. <br />If that is needed, it is an additional charge. <br />., <br />20 <br />M M M <br />