DC Fire and EMS considering Uber for low-priority patients

[FrodosPet]

http://www.ems1.com/ambulances-emergency-vehicles/articles/106643048-DC-Fire-and-EMS-considering-Uber-for-low-priority-patients/

Jul 11, 2016 | By EMS1 Staff

WASHINGTON — In response to the growing volume of 911 calls, D.C. Fire and EMS Department officials are now examining whether private taxi services or Uber drivers could be used to transport callers with low-priority requests.

"We are working with the health department to find other ways to transport people, such as using a contract taxi cab or Uber," said Chief Gregory Dean. "We are trying to find creative ways to try to reduce the strain on the system."

Chief Dean told NBC Washington on Monday that the department is also currently considering adding nurses to 911 call centers to evaluate medical needs, and using vehicles other than ambulances to transport people to the doctor’s office.

~ snip ~

[FrodosPet]

1. What could possibly go wrong with this plan?

Other than using untrained, unvetted drivers who are already stressed to transport sick scared people?

The liability lawyers are going to be watching this situation closely.

[tblue37]

2. Beat me to it! I was just about to post this. nt

[Hassin Bin Sober]

3. Lol.

All well and good until the first person codes in the back of a Prius.

[merrily]

4. Who makes the call that a patient is low priority and what are the criteria?

And will the private services have sirens, in case a low priority patient goes high priority?

In Boston a call to 911 probably gets you picked up by a private ambulance service with trained EMTs, not the city's first responders.