Long-held frustrations came to the forefront Monday at a meeting of the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Group, as two of the county’s ambulance providers voiced frustration over communication with the Skagit County EMS Office.
Kirk Hale, the director of the Central Valley Ambulance Authority, and Chief Richard Curtis with the Anacortes Fire Department reiterated concerns over the lack of communication from EMS Office Director Mark Raaka, saying he has frequently ignored their requests for meetings and data.
“Several times in the last years we’ve been told one thing, then another (from the county),” Curtis said. “We need goals for each agency, responsibilities and timelines.” Hale and Curtis say there has been a lack of communication around the implementation of Basic Life Support integration, where those involved in less serious medical emergency calls are transported by EMTs and not by paramedics. Patients still receive an assessment from a paramedic unit.
BLS integration is currently being used in Sedro-Woolley.
The advisory group, which was formed by the county commissioners, is tasked with mapping a path forward for how patients are transported and how EMS should be operated.
During a presentation at the meeting, Raaka said multiple times that he hasn’t gotten clear direction from the commissioners and that he is “as frustrated as anyone” by how negative the conversation about BLS integration has been.