Minutes 05/25/1983 S MEMORANDUM
DATE: June 1, 1983
TO: EMSAC MEMBERS
FROM: W. Neil Dorrill, Public Safety Administrator
SUBJECT: Special EMSAC Meeting - May 25, 1983 - Minutes
In accompaniment please find copy of Minutes of the
special meeting held on May 25, 1983.
As of this date, Mr. Schick has paid his bill in full.
WND/bm
Naples, Florida, May 25, 1983
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Emergency Medical Services
Advisory Council met on this date at 4 :00 P.M. in the 5th Floor
Conference Room, Bldg "F" of the Courthouse Complex in Special
Session with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN: Egon Hill
MEMBERS: Marvin Cecil
William H. Comte
Chief Jim Billman
Dr. Hanns Ehrhardt
Sgt. Richard Davidson
Jonathan Smelko
Sharon Arogona for
Richard Akin
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS: Chief Norris Ijams
Dr. Meli for
Dr. Wm. Cox
Bill McNulty for
Sheriff Rogers
STAFF ADVISORS : Doug Greenfield
W. Neil Dorrill
Anne Foster
ALSO PRESENT: Jack Wampler, EMS Billings; Skip Camp, EMS
paramedic; Kenneth Teague, EMS Paramedic; Sewall Pastor, and
Billie Moyer.
AGENDA
Review of complaint brought by
John Schick against Collier County
Emergency Medical Service
After taking roll call of the voting members, Chairman Hill
explained that the purpose of the meeting was to hear a complaint
registered by Mr. John Schick. Mr. Schick was invited to present
his testimony.
Mr. Schick said he felt the bill he received was unfair -
"$120. 00 for a 5 minute ride and there were 2 people at my shop who
offered to take me - and I was feeling better at the time. "
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL
Special Meeting - 5/25/83
Page 2
Mr. Wampler explained the established charges pertaining to
the run for Mr. Schick on 12/1/82 as follows:
Basic charge - $75 .00
Mileage - 2 .4 miles at $2 .50 per mi - $5.00
BLS charge - $25. 00
Additional charge for oxygen - $15.00
Mr. Schick questioned the need for any of the services given,
stating that he was feeling better at the time and that the only
reason he went along with the paramedics to the hospital was to
verify that everything was alright, further stating that if he
had known there was going to be a charge for this he would have
asked one of his co-workers to take him.
Testimony was given by Ms. Clover Fox, bookkeeper and co-
worker, who stated she had called 911 and that although Mr. Schick seemed=
to be feeling better when the paramedics arrived, but 'urged him
to go to the hospital for a check-up.
Further presentations were made by Kenneth Teague, paramedic,
who described Mr . Schick' s condition as stable, but said he was
aware of the patient' s past history and was concerned that further
complications might arise and advised Mr. Schick to go to the
hospital to be checked out. Mr. Schick however had no response as
to why co-workers did not transport him to the Emergency Room. He
later stated he was under the impression that EMS services were free.
Mr. Greenfield explained that it was not common practice for
paramedics to discuss pre-hospital emergency care charges with a
patient at the time of service and added that if the transport had
not been made, the flat charge for a cancellation would have been
only $35 .00, even though BLS services had been given.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL
Special Meeting 5/25/83
Page 3
Mr. Hill 's suggestion to reduce the bill to $35 .00 was met
with disapproval by Chief Norris Ijams, who felt that this was no
different than any other 911 call for an ambulance, and that he
felt the charges should be left as they were.
Chief Billman and Marvin Cecil agreed, feeling this might
set a precedent and be the cause of future legal actions.
Dr. Ehrhardt moved the bill be reduced $15 .00 , (the amount
of the oxygen charge) . Dr. Meli seconded. Motion was defeated
by a vote of 10-2, with the votes being as follows:
Dr. Ehrhardt - Aye Jim Billman - Nay
Dr. Meli - Aye Bill McNulty - Nay
Biff Comte - Nay Sharon Arogona - Nay
Marvin Cecil - Nay Ann Foster - Nay
Egon Hill - Nay Sgt. Davidson - Nay
Jonathan Smelko - Nay Chief Ijams - Nay
Mr. Greenfield mentioned, for clarification, that he had
checked with the Medical Director who agreed that the paramedic
had been right in administering oxygen.
A new motion was made by Bill McNulty to maintain the
existing charges; motion was seconded by Sharon Arogona. The
motion was passed by a majority vote of 10-2, with the votes
being as follows:
Dr. Ehrhardt - Nay Jim Billman - Aye
Dr. Meli - Nay Bill McNulty - Aye
Biff Comte - Aye Sharon Arogona - Aye
Egon Hill - Aye Chief Ijams - Aye
Marvin Cecil - Aye Ann Foster - Aye
Jonathan Smelko - Aye Sgt. Davidson - Aye
The meeting was adjourned at 4 :45 P.M.
Minutes prepared by: Billie Moyer
Egon Hill, Chairman