City explores plan to reduce ambulance rides

CINCINNATI (AP) — A city council committee in Cincinnati is proposing that the city reduce unnecessary ambulance rides by hiring public health nurses to sort out 911 calls.

The committee is also proposing the use of cheaper, private vans to drive people without emergency needs to the city’s health clinics. The current system allows almost anyone who calls 911 and wants to go to the hospital to get an ambulance ride.

The city’s 10 ambulances transported people more than 31,000 times in 2007, and many of those patients didn’t have urgent medical needs.

Such transports cause the city to waste money and wear out ambulances. It also contributes to emergency room overcrowding and exhausts medical personnel.

Councilman Jeff Berding, co-chairman of the task force, said too much ambulance use can keep people who seriously need immediate assistance waiting. A review conducted last fall by the task force found that 73 911 callers over the course of a month were told no ambulances were available.

“It’s sad that you have people calling 911 saying, ‘My baby has a toothache,’” said Councilwoman Laketa Cole.

Under the proposal, a nurse would advise callers on how to deal with their medical problems in cases that don’t require immediate transport to a hospital. The nurse would set up appointments at city health clinics for people who need to see a doctor.