S.C. Panel Hears Pitch on EMS Study
Sept. 10--Within two weeks, a committee of Anderson County officials will recommend who should do an in-depth analysis of the county's rescue squads.
The deeper analysis comes after a county-commissioned study revealed financial problems in most of the county's small squads, and after Williamston Emergency Medical Services became the subject of an ongoing state investigation.
"The bottom line is that we need to do whatever we have to do to make sure that if you live in Anderson County, you can count on getting the help you need if you are having a medical emergency," said County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn. "Anderson County residents deserve that."
The county normally pays nonprofit rescue squads in Belton, Honea Path, Iva, Pelzer, Pendleton, Townville and Williamston and the private company Medshore Ambulance Service a total of $4 million annually to handle emergency calls throughout the county. After officials determined that Williamston Emergency Medical Services was operating at least $300,000 in debt and could not make payroll, the county entered a contract with Medshore to provide temporary service in the town.
This week, a three-member committee is hearing proposals from two out-of-state companies who hope to become the county's emergency medical services consultant. The successful consultant will review documents from each emergency medical services provider, will interview squad members and will make recommendations about how the county can provide emergency medical services in the future.
On Wednesday, the committee heard from David Shrader, president and CEO of The Polaris Group, a consulting company based in Southern Shores, North Carolina.
Shrader said he expects to be able to do the kind of work the county wants in six months or less. But he added that the time frame could vary, depending on how detailed an analysis Anderson County wants, and how cooperative squads are in providing information.
"We've got some squads that are solvent and independent and a few that are not solvent, that's one of your challenges," said County Councilman J. Mitchell Cole. "It may be hard to get some of them to agree to accept anything."
Shrader said he grew up in Greenville and began his career in emergency medical services with the Travelers Rest Rescue Squad in 1974. His career in emergency medical services has spanned decades, he said, including time as the chief operating officer of a medical transportation company. For companies in California, Shrader has managed emergency medical services operations in San Diego, San Mateo and Los Angeles. He formed his consulting company in 1997 and moved its headquarters to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 2001.
Under questioning from Steve Newton, Anderson County's governmental affairs liaison, Shrader said he had not done any projects similar to this one in South Carolina in the last 10 years. But Shrader said he is doing similar work for Beaufort County, North Carolina, helping to reorganize an emergency medical services system that serves residents along that state's coast.
Along with Newton, the members of the committee evaluating Shrader's firm are Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns and Scott Stoller, the county's emergency medical services director.
The committee will hear Shrader's competitor, Missouri-based Fitch & Associates, at a meeting today at 2 p.m. at the historic county courthouse.
Burns said the price of the in-depth analysis will not be known until the County Council agrees on the scope of work it wants.
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