Tuesday, October 16, 2007

** Yukon hires EMS consultant to revamp prehospital care

** Nevada paramedic arrested again on drug theft charges

CANADA NEWS

** In an effort to revamp the Yukon territory’s troubled EMS system, the Health Minister has hired a consulting firm. CBC (October 15) said Brad Cathers contracted Sierra Consultants with the aim of delivering more effective and efficient prehospital care, at the same time as modernizing ambulance services. Based out of Alberta, Sierra will likely be initially tasked with dealing with the volunteer problem plaguing the Yukon. In July, workers at both Dawson City and Watson Lake resigned en masse. Spokesmen for the two areas said the medics’ desire to be paid on-call fees had fallen on deaf ears.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A Clark County, Nevada paramedic has been arrested for the second time in two weeks. Las Vegas Now (October 15) said Sam Bond, who is also a firefighter, was taken into custody Saturday on charges he stole narcotics from a fire station. The previous arrest involved similar charges. At that time, he was placed under house arrest and given an ankle bracelet monitor. Transported to hospital Saturday for drug overdose treatment, Bond remains at the Clark County Detention Center.