Records show that Tulsa (OK) EMSA ambulances were delayed to calls involving heart attacks, breathing problems, car accidents, seizures, suicidal patients and other serious medical conditions, reports the Tulsa World.
Ambulances were called during that time for at least two patients — both 59 years old — who died from cardiac arrest, records show. It is unclear what role, if any, emergency response played in those cases. One victim was pronounced dead before an ambulance arrived.
EMSA CEO Steve Williamson said the reported delays are not actual delays but are situations in which ambulances might be delayed beyond the response time required by city ordinance.
Public safety is not being compromised, and EMSA has a medical director who closely monitors such issues, he said.
He said the data are based on messages EMSA sends to the Fire Department as a “heads up” and that the data are being “misinterpreted” by city officials.
The map displays addresses where EMSA dispatchers said ambulances were delayed arriving to medical calls since Dec. 31, 2012 through Feb. 4, 2013. EMSA later said the data represents possible delays, not actual delays.
Fire Chief Ray Driskell said he has been asking Williamson for months to help the Fire Department obtain better data and information from EMSA. The department has 490 emergency medical technicians, more than 100 certified paramedics and 16 trucks staffed with firefighters who have advanced lifesaving training, he said.
Read more of the story here http://bit.ly/YbNdFT
