County to take a hard look at ambulances

A woman my age is very interested in this topic...but I haven't heard of any complaints personally and am curious: What sort of complaints?

Dear Senior Lady,

The amount of complaints should be numerous. One for instance is NPA went without pediatric defibrillation pads for about 2 months. Management was made very aware of this, still the pads were not ordered. How about the fact employees are forced to dump biowaste and dirty needles into the garbage. Just so you know, that is very illegal. Employees had to carefully remove needles from sharp containers, that are not designed to be reopened, because it was the only sharp container they had. There are times when NPA does not operate with the required medicines and equipment. There are other times when the ambulance that is required to have a paramedic, does not have one. This company has paychecks that bounce on a regular basis, cancels all medical insurance without informing any employees, and fails to pay bills. How about the fact the employees are required to use a map that was torn out of the phone book for navigation. One employee finally went to the commisioners to express these and other concerns. He was fired. Elmore County should really consider exploring other providers for EMS services. County funds should be used to provide EMS in the County, not fund failing non-emergent services in Boise.

I cant answer for what jstokes40 said but I can tell you that the ambulances are nothing but a bucket of bolts. As one local mechanic put it "they are piles of crap". A disaster waiting to happen.

I know for fact that NPA has bad checks bounce to local business's and that they are very negligent when it comes to paying local creditors.

Its hard to imagine that a serivce that is supposed to be taking care of the sick and injured could be so reckless with thier own finances and treat the employees the way they do. I hope the county looks long and hard at the contract and makes the right decision.

We deserve better and should demand better. I only hope that the dedicated people who work at NPA know that we understand what they are going through and that we appreciate what you guys do with little or no equpiment. Hang in there it will get better from what I have heard there are big changes on the horizon.

To respond to desert1der.

The ambulance have broken down on the I-84 with patents in them.

Thanks to all who answered my question. So it's management, not employees -- I don't know why, but somehow that makes me feel a little bit better; how hard it must be for them! I wonder how long the investigation will take.

Thanks to all who answered by question. I'm concerned for the employees; they must feel very frustrated.

I can tell you for a fact many things about Northwest Paramedics and some of the recent dealings. How is that possible? Because I was fired from there.

Ambulances mechanically are not in the shape they should be. Paychecks have bounced numerous times. Checks to local businesses have bounced. NPA is in collections to local businesses. Not paying enough Unemployment Insurance, cancelling health benefits but still taking out of peoples checks for another two months and not even telling people benefits were cancelled. NPA has numerous federal IRS liens, because as Karl Vogt, (owner of NPA and a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Idaho) put it in a recent commissioner meeting "bad business decisions" with regards to a helicopter EMS service they bought But some in the political arena have said, it is none of Elmore County's business. That is all on NPA.

Ambulances refusing to go on calls, getting lost, breaking down, not always having enough restock medical supplies and being told to reuse certain biohazard items. It has all happened and will continue to happen as long as NPA is there.

Many commissioners have asked for monthly and quarterly reports from NPA, but in commissioner meetings NPA has only provided excuses.

As far as the employees, yes there are some very good EMTs and Paramedics, however do not feel bad for them. They have been given the opportunity to come forward many times and turned a blind eye. Some have done it for fear of being fired (as Greg Mueller fired anyone who complained about NPA). I dont disagree a person needs to provide for their family. But I stood up in a public meeting and gave a statement. I knew the risk involved. But I also knew that people need to be paid, ambulances need to run, and the county taxes payers would expect better if they knew many of the concerns, problems, and lack of good managemanent of their money to a private company.

Some dont want to cause problems because they want to stay in the good graces of the County so when NPA leaves, they can run the service themselves, even though they have before and problems presented. That is why Elmore County Commissioners gave it to NPA.

There are a few very good people who have tried to turn NPA- Elmore County Operation around. But in the end they are fired by NPA because they want NPA to tow the line for the county. It is sad to say, that after almost 17 years in Emergency Medical Services I have decided to get out of it. Being apart of something that could have really been a wonderful example of how it could have been and not having any public support from peers after I stood up puts a extremely disheartening taste in my mouth.

A true EMS profession follows a code of ethics. He/She stands up for the patient, the crew, and the public which has entrusted us with their lives and the lives of their families.

I hope that one day, many of those who turned a blind eye will learn to truely stand up for what is right.

As far as taxes payers. Hold people accountable.