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in service levels and fee schedules implemented in 2003 have had a significant impact on ambulance service <br />revenues. Possible solutions included: <br /> <br />? <br /> Rate increases. <br />? <br /> Subsidies. <br />? <br /> Reduced response time requirements. <br />? <br /> Other expense reductions. <br /> <br />Mr. LeDuc thanked the presenters. <br /> <br />The group took a break from 6:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. <br /> <br />VI. QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION <br />Mr. LeDuc reconvened the meeting and explained the ground rules for the Question and Answer session. <br />He introduced resource people in attendance: Dr. Melissa Doherty, supervising physician for Eugene Fire <br />and EMS; Dr. Rob Rockstroh, director, Lane County Health and Human Services; Mike Griffiths, chief <br />executive officer, Life Flight; Mike Collins, Pacific Northwest Division general manager, Rural/Metro <br />Ambulance; Dr. Eric Spencer, McKenzie Willamette Medical Center, and Maurine Cate, chief executive <br />officer, McKenzie Willamette Medical Center. <br /> <br />Chief Groves said the goal of the meeting was to educate the policy makers on what the problems were, <br />present some potential solutions, and be able to identify substantial steps to address the problems on a <br />regional basis by the end of the meeting. <br /> <br />Medical Director of the Emergency Department at SHMC Dr. Gary Young, said he represented Eugene <br />Emergency Physicians who provide emergency care at both SHMC campuses, and Peace Health Sacred <br />Heart. He acknowledged there had been significant changes in 2008 with the move to RiverBend. He <br />noted that emergency rooms (ER) at both campuses were staffed with ER physicians and nurses, and <br />assured everyone that patients brought to the University District campus would receive the same high level <br />of care as those taken to the RiverBend campus. He opined some of the more stable patients could be taken <br />to the University District facility. He thanked the paramedics and others involved in the EMS system and <br />apologized for any difficulty that may have occurred during the transition period. He noted the City of <br />Eugene supported CAHOOTS, which responded to many behavioral and social problems. He thought if <br />Springfield and other local governments would support CAHOOTS, it would take away many of the calls <br />responded to by paramedics that were not medical in nature. He thanked those present for treating everyone <br />the same which was a core value of our health care system. He encouraged everyone to support national <br />health insurance to provide access to care for everyone thus preventing many calls to <br /> 9-1-1 or ER visits. He supported these comments offered earlier: <br />? <br /> First responder fees for 9-1-1 which do not result in ambulance transport to a hospital. <br />? <br /> Ambulance service should not extend beyond the UGB. <br />? <br /> Support for subcontracting for BLS, interfaculty transfers and non-emergency calls between <br />hospitals and hospitals and nursing homes. <br /> <br />He thanked Life Flight for providing air ambulance services and critical ground support to the community. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Joint Elected Officials— January 27, 2009 Page 7 <br /> Lane Board of County Commissioners, Lane Rural Fire/Rescue Board of Directors and Eu- <br />gene and Springfield City Councils <br /> <br />