Equipment, Paperwork Problems End Rural/Metro`s Contra Costa Transports
March 02--Rural/Metro Ambulance has lost its permit to transfer patients between medical facilities in Contra Costa County after county officials determined the company's fleet of vehicles lacked certain required equipment and paperwork was incomplete.
The company -- which also operates in Santa Clara, Alameda, Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange and San Diego counties -- has not been able to transfer patients in Contra Costa County since its three-year permit expired Feb. 28 and was not renewed, said Bruce Kenagy, county prehospital care coordinator.
Kaiser Permanente contracts with Rural/Metro to provide those services in Contra Costa County and has relied on other companies since the contract expired. The company's contract in Alameda County is not impacted.
"While Rural/Metro is working to resolve the issues identified by Contra Costa County, Kaiser Permanente is using ambulance services from other providers," said Phyllis Stark, the HMO's regional operations director, in a statement.
American Medical Response is the 9-1-1 emergency call ambulance service for Contra Costa, and that service is not affected.
County inspectors suspended two Rural/Metro ambulances on Feb. 17 when they found the units were missing pediatric oxygen masks and nasal tubes that help patients breath, said Kenagy. Subsequently it was determined the entire fleet did not have those items, nor the correct number of ice packs and triage tags.
In addition, the company's permit application paperwork was not completed in time to address the issues before the contract expired, said Kenagy, calling the situation "fairly rare."
"We are currently working with county officials to process and review our license renewal application, and are confident all materials will meet the county's requirements," said Tom Milton, Rural/Metro spokesman. "We expect the renewal to be issued in the near future and are continuing to work closely with network transportation partners to ensure continuity of care to customers in Contra Costa County."
Kenagy said he expected the company's permit could be renewed by the end of next week.
Contact Matthias Gafni at 925-952-5026. Follow him at Twitter.com/mgafni.
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