No, but you wouldn’t know that from a few recent, misleading letters to the editor. So as someone who regularly attends SJC Pub Hospital Dist #1 meetings, and who is partial to facts, I thought I’d weigh in. Please note: if you prefer wild speculation and reckless misinformation, this is not the column for you.
EMS is in good shape. Driven by the strong management provided by our Superintendent and EMS Administrator over the past year, the PHD has: (1) expanded the community paramedicine program; (2) corrected several financial missteps from the prior administration; (3) reduced management costs and paid off a building bond so that tax dollars could fund EMS services by adding a 5th full-time paramedic and a 5th full-time EMT; (4) reached an agreement to bring paramedics into the station (starting Fall 2022); and (5) signed a union contract with the staff EMTs. Firefighters who were volunteering as EMTs did discontinue that service, but at a time when other similar agencies are experiencing staffing shortages, we’re fully staffed with employees and volunteers, and looking forward to 11 new volunteer EMTs after they complete the current EMS course.
It’s true that the PHD board discontinued efforts to integrate EMS and the Fire District after the 56% vote in November, and is now seeking voter approval to retain oversight of EMS as part of the medical and adult care services we facilitate. But you should know that all of the PHD commissioners supported the integration proposed by a Citizens Advisory Group in 2019. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the version of integration that the fire district sent to the voters in November. The November version had an inexplicably higher price tag, and it didn’t include the CAG recommendations for cross-trained personnel, a capital equipment plan, metrics with key performance indicators, and increased board size. The PHD is asking for 10% less money and has a budget to show how it would be spent.
Last, recent letters have attacked EMS vaguely as not having the right leadership. I disagree. But I do agree that the leadership style at EMS is different from that at the fire district. Our commissioners don’t attack partners with vulgar epithets during meetings. Our Administrator exhibits integrity and respectful collaboration with our many colleagues in the field. We don’t start feuds with our partner agencies or hide from our mistakes. And we make transparent decisions and show our work.
If these are traits that you value in the people who provide your emergency medical services, then you’ll want EMS to continue to operate under the PHD umbrella.
Kyle Loring
PHD #1 Commissioner
