Monday, February 4, 2008

** 38 patients stress Winnipeg, Manitoba’s EMS system

** New York EMT arrested after faking work absence due to military service

CANADA NEWS

** Emergency medical services budgets in Winnipeg, Manitoba are apparently being stretched to the breaking point by about 38 individuals. That is the contention being offered by the Winnipeg Free Press (James Turner/February 2) which said the patients, who are generally intoxicated street people, accounted for 1,066 emergency calls from January 15, 2006 to May 15, 2007. In one instance, the emergency services bill for a single person tallied $250,000. In another, male Gerald McKay accessed EMS every day for a month during a drinking binge. City Councillor Gord Steeves said he was appalled at the system abuse. Steeves said the so-called regulars should be forced into a long term care environment to free ambulances for legitimate users.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A New York EMT is in hot water after feigning military service to get paid time off from work. That is the word from the North Country Gazette (February 2) which said FDNY worker Michael Suehle, who has since been suspended, presented his employer with papers claiming he was being called up to serve 28 days of military duty. Suehle, 32, who has worked EMS since 2004 was arrested January 24. Compensated during the time of his absence to the tune of $4,000, he has been charged with criminal possession of a forged document, third degree grand larceny, tampering with public records in the third degree and offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree. Several of the charges are felonies. If convicted, he could serve up to seven years in the clink.