Paramedics from Trinity Regional Medical Center would go out on patrol with Fort Dodge police in a proposed attempt to streamline emergency medical responses in the city.
The plan is intended to provide quality response to medical emergencies while reducing the number of people and vehicles that respond to some calls for help.
Police Chief Ivan Metzger and Steve Gibson, the manager of the emergency department at the medical center, presented the plan to the city council Monday.
''I think the public would see this as a positive step for them,'' Gibson said.
Some council members suggested that the fire department, which already responds to all medical emergencies, should take a leading role in revamping the emergency medical system. The council directed Gibson, Metzger and Acting Fire Chief Gene Habben to present more details on how the plan could be enacted.
Currently, the police, fire department and medical center paramedics respond to all medical emergencies.
The police officers are trained in first aid and carry defibrillators in the patrol cars. The fire department has paramedics and carries a full array of medical gear on the trucks. Gibson said the only difference between the fire department and medical center paramedics is that the medical center crews can transport patients.
Under the proposal, a medical center paramedic would accompany a police officer on patrol every day for a 90-day trial period. Advanced life support equipment would be carried in the police car.
The police car with the paramedic would be the first unit dispatched to any call for medical help. That paramedic could decide if the fire department or an ambulance is needed at the call.
For example, under the proposal a police/paramedic car might handle emergencies that aren't life threatening, postponing the dispatch of an ambulance until the paramedic has assessed the situation.
Reports of chest pain or difficulty breathing would automatically result in the police/paramedic unit and an ambulance being immediately dispatched.
Vehicle accidents with injured people involved would result in a police, fire and ambulance response.
Metzger said the paramedic police car would be assigned to the lowest priority police call so that it would be free to respond to medical encouragement.
Gibson said the response proposal would reduce the duplication of services. He added that it would improve safety because fewer emergency vehicles would be responding.
Councilmen Jim Gill and Greg Nolting said the fire department is usually the first unit on the scene of a medical call.
''Every time I've been involved, the fire department is the first one on the scene, every cotton-picking time,'' Gill said.
Metzger disputed with that. He said there are incident reports that show the police are often the first ones on the scene.
Councilman Doug Laird said he's concerned the proposal will create hard feelings between police officers, firefighters and paramedics.
''There might be some animosity there,'' he said. ''For my part I'd just like to see that everyone agrees.''
