Rescue service hopes to improve

Plattsmouth's volunteer emergency rescue service suffered another setback when a state audit found that it failed 13 of 17 inspection points.

The audit was conducted in September by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Plattsmouth City Administrator Erv Portis said the city immediately suspended rescue service until its units pass state inspection. The state will conduct another inspection sometime after Nov. 22.

Ambulances “could still legally respond to calls because the state did not shut them down,” Portis said, but city officials “decided from a risk management standpoint it would be better not to go on calls. The EMS units have not responded (to 911 calls) since the inspection on Sept. 17.”

The city has been assisted in rescue calls for several weeks by a private Omaha company.

Marla Augustine, a spokeswoman for the Health and Human Services Department, said emergency medical services get two chances to pass a state inspection. If a unit fails to pass the second inspection, it must go before the state's Emergency Medical Services board.

Augustine said the board has a variety of disciplinary choices, such as imposing a fine or approving a limited license, probation or suspension.

Rescue Capt. Mike Wood said the state inspection was requested by Plattsmouth's emergency staff members to give them “a template” for what they are doing right and wrong.

He characterized most of the inspection failures as paperwork problems, such as not having manufacturer's manuals and validation stickers for ambulance equipment.

More important, emergency rescue workers were directed to develop policies for sanitation and infection control and get them approved by the local medical director. The state also wants the volunteers to keep records of maintenance programs and personnel training.

“We want to be in 100 percent compliance,” Wood said. “The state inspectors were very, very helpful. They worked with us and gave us a lot of ideas.”

The failed inspection came shortly after the Plattsmouth Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department began receiving outside help making ambulance calls.

Concerns that several 911 calls went unanswered by city rescue squads because of a manpower shortage prompted a decision to contract with American Medical Response of Omaha for 90 days of service starting Aug. 21.

The Omaha company posted a rescue unit in Plattsmouth and began responding to 911 calls. The contract ends Nov. 18, but Portis said the city is in discussions to extend the pact until after the next state inspection.

Wood said the Plattsmouth rescue unit is actively recruiting volunteers to restore its manpower.

Four new recruits are going through training, and the department has received more six applications. If all 10 passed their training, the city would have about 20 emergency medical service volunteers.

“One of the problems with manpower is that so many of our members work in Omaha,” Wood said. “We need more people who can respond from right here.”

Contact the writer:

444-1272, kevin.cole@owh.com