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REGULAR MEETING JULY 8, 1974
<br />COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED)
<br />have been discussions with representatives from St. Joseph's Hospital and Memorial Hospital and th
<br />Medical Association for the implementation of a paramedic ambulance unit for the City of South Ben
<br />He stated that, during 1973, about one out of every five ambulance runs out of a total of 5,700 co
<br />have employed a paramedic unit. He stated that the funds would be used for the purchase of the
<br />necessary telemetry equipment.to convert one of the city's ambulances into such a unit. He briefl
<br />explained the program, stating that the Department of Public Safety would assign three firefighter
<br />to paramedic training which would be conducted under the supervision of the Medical Society and th
<br />cooperation of the local hospitals. The training program was anticipated to last approximately 50
<br />hours. The Bureau of Fire would then operate the paramedic unit out of one of the two hospitals
<br />and have the capability of transporting patients to either hospital. The training would be on -goi
<br />as the paramedics would be assigned eight hours a day to answer calls from the hospital and would
<br />work in the emergency rooms under the supervision of the doctors and nurses when not actually on
<br />emergency calls. Mr. Gallagher indicated that the McGann ambulance service would also equip one o
<br />its ambulances as a paramedic unit and would provide personnel to work with the Bureau of Fire par
<br />(medic unit. He indicated that the amount of $9,000 was requested for the purchase of two portable
<br />radios, battery chargers, installation, a mobile repeator and a defibrillator. The amount of
<br />$2,500 was requested to provide for the training program and to contract with the hospitals and th
<br />schools of nursing for essential training, with $750 needed for essential supplies over and above
<br />telemetry equipment in order to equip one of the ambulances as a paramedic unit. Mr. Gallagher fe
<br />the program was a very worthwhile program and the amount requested for the program was incidental
<br />when it was used to help save lives.
<br />Miss Virginia Guthrie, Consultant and member of the Board of Directors of the Civic Planning
<br />Association, wondered about the on -going costs of the program. Mr. Gallagher stated that the on-
<br />going costs would be personnel and replacement of the equipment. He stated that only one ambulance
<br />would be dedicated to the program and three men would be trained for the paramedic program.
<br />Ultimately there would be six men; however, only three would go through the paramedic training.
<br />Mr. David Anderson, Assistant Administrator of St. Joseph's Hospital, stated that the program was
<br />cooperative joint effort of the hospitals, and the hospitals would participate in the training of
<br />the paramedics and monitoring of the program. Dr. Eldred MacDonell, a specialist in internal
<br />medicine, testified for the medical need and urgency of the program and talked about the number of
<br />persons that die enroute to the hospital. He stated that the program was in operation in Evanston,
<br />Illinois, and the results were very satisfactory in saving lives. Councilman Kopczynski wondered
<br />about the operating costs of the program per year. Mr. Gallagher stated that basically the same
<br />cost for operation of the ambulance would be anticipated for the paramedic unit, that being approxi
<br />mately $9,000. He stated that, if the equipment breaks down, it would have to be replaced and ther
<br />would be an expense incurred. He was hopeful that the new equipment would last a couple years.
<br />Fire Chief Bland stated that $126,000 was needed per year to operate the ambulance program of two
<br />units, including salaries. Mr. McGann of the McGann Funeral Home and Ambulance Service, stated tha
<br />50a of the cost to him would be between $45,000 and $50,000 a year at a minimum. Councilman
<br />Kopczynski wondered why the city did not make an effort to collect ambulance fees, and Mr. Gallaghe
<br />stated that he felt this was a service provided to the citizens as a part of their tax dollars.
<br />Councilman Kopczynski talked about the use of firemen to run the city's ambulances. He stated that
<br />the firemen were needed to fight fires, and he wondered about the possibility of the city not pro-
<br />viding ambulance service. Mr. Gallagher stated that, since 1960, the Fire Department has provided
<br />ambulance service. Propr to that time, the service was provided by the Police Department.
<br />Councilman Kopczynski. asked if it was possible to hire civilians to run the program. Mr. Gallagher
<br />stated that the firemen have worked closely in all types of emergencies. He felt there would be a
<br />great turnover of employees if civilians were hired to man the program. Councilman Parent asked fo,
<br />a point of order. He felt Councilman Kopczynski's questions were not relevant to the issue before!
<br />the Council. Councilman Kopczynski stated that he felt his questions were important in considering
<br />the program. Councilman Serge wondered about those persons covered by ambulance insurance.' He
<br />felt those persons should be able to pay for the service. Mr. Gallagher stated that he was of the
<br />opinion that the citizens deserved the service. Councilman Taylor felt this service was very
<br />fundamental and deserved to have the support of the Council. He felt the cost was insignificant
<br />when it pertained to the saving of lives. Councilman Szymkowiak felt the service should be provide
<br />to the citizens because it was a necessity and sometimes a matter of life or death.
<br />Councilman Szymkowiak made a motion that the ordinance be recommended favorably to the Council,
<br />seconded by Councilman Parent. The motion carried.
<br />There being no further business to
<br />a motion to rise and report to the
<br />ATTEST: '
<br />n/
<br />CITY CLERK
<br />REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED
<br />come before the Committee of the Whole, Councilman Taylor made
<br />Council, seconded by Councilman Parent. The motion carried.
<br />ATTE
<br />CHA N
<br />Be it remembered that the regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana,
<br />reconvened in the Council Chambers at 10:15 p.m., Council President Nemeth presiding and eight
<br />members present and one member absent.
<br />REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON MINUTES
<br />To the Common Council of the City of South Bend:
<br />Your committee on the inspection and supervision of the minutes, would respect-
<br />fully report that they have inspected the minutes of the June 24, 1974, regular meeting
<br />of the Council and found them correct.
<br />They, therefore, recommend that the same be approved.
<br />s/ Peter J. Nemeth
<br />Councilman Taylor made a motion that the report be accepted as read and placed on file and the
<br />minutes be approved, seconded by Councilman Newburn. The motion carried.
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