HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 05-30 Mutual service found unfeasible THE REVIEW rnay!o,/919
Mutual service
found unfeasible
The possibility of Maplewood optional adjustment on a per call basis at
paramedics responding to North St.Paul $306.50 per call on request for excess of
emergency calls on a regular basis is not the 50 calls. Another optional charge
seen by city officials from the corn- method,the report stated,could be a base
munities as a viable proposal at the of$12,000 per year with a flat charge of
present time. $100 per run up to 50 runs per year and
MAPLEWOOD DIRECTOR of public $306.50 per run beyond 50 calls.
safety Richard Schaller said the
Maplewood staff did an extensive study of ALTHOUGH THE financial aspects
the possibility of implementing a mutual might be worked out,the staff noted that
paramedic program and found that it was the major problem of extending the
not feasible at this time. service was overextending the paramedic
"If North St. Paul came to us with Personnel in a manner that would take
another proposal, one making it more away from the paramedic's primary
feasible, we would look at it again," function as a police officer.
Schaller said."But for now this current The report noted that the Maplewood
proposal isn't feasible." officers had joined the department to be
At the encouragement of a variety of police officers, and subsequently
experts in emergency medical services, volunteered to serve as paramedics.
North St.Paul sought out Maplewood's Schaller noted,"We have to be careful not
feelings about extending its paramedic to get too broad ourselves,and possibly
service to North St.Paul. neglect our own department."
If there were simultaneous calls in
NORTH ST.PAUL asked Maplewood if North St. Paul and Maplewood, the
it would be able to respond to coronary paramedics would be committed to the
emergency calls in the city. first call. This might mean that the
In the Maplewood staff report,the staff Maplewood paramedics might be in North
noted that cost per cardiac-related call is St. Paul while the Maplewood resident
estimated to be$306.50 based on the net might not receive the immediate at-
chargeable operational budget for the tention,and would possibly have to wait,
paramedic service divided by the number Schaller noted.
of minutes spent on calls in 1976 times the North St. Paul fire chief Howard
average amount of paramedic time Anderson said the city and fire depart-
commitment per call. ment, whichoperates the city's am-
The staff said it would be possible to bulance service,said that North St.Paul
offer the service to North St.Paul at a understands and appreciates.
coat of$15,325 for the first 50 calls with an Maplewood's concerns.