New ambulance work schedule is proposed

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November 3, 2010 - 12:00 AM

Those responding to medical emergencies aboard Allen County ambulances may work longer shifts, but have more time in between to recover.
Allen County Ambulance Director Jason Nelson proposed to county commissioners Tuesday that the 32 ambulance employees —17 full time and 15 part time — work 48 straight hours then take off four days, or 96 hours. Today they work a schedule that has them on duty for three 24-hour periods interspersed with two 24-hour and one 48-hour break.
In the force are nine full-time and seven part-time paramedics, with two emergency medical technicians training for the elevated medical rating.
One paramedic drives from Abilene to work in Allen County and other employees come from Coffeyville, Cherryvale, Lawrence and Ottawa.
Nelson said having a work schedule with four consecutive days off would be a perk employees would like and help attract new ones when need arose.
“I talked to everyone and most were in favor of the new schedule,” he said. “Only one employee was against it.”
In addition to more consecutive time off, the new schedule would reduce driving by one round trip each shift.
The work plan wouldn’t be unique to Allen County. Miami and Linn counties already have similar schedules, Nelson said.
“Let’s give the employees some time to mull over the proposal,” said Commissioner Dick Works. “And, we (he and commissioners Gary McIntosh and Rob Francis) will think about it.”
Allen County has ambulances stationed in Iola, Humboldt and Moran.

NELSON also said he had a bid of slightly more than $37,000 for three power cots, which would be used for patients difficult for responders to load and unload because of their size.
He is in the process of writing a grant application to Kansas Emergency Medical Services which would pay 75 percent of the cost.

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