Struggling ambulance service faces fine while pleading for volunteers

A struggling central Iowa ambulance service is facing a $600 fine after it failed to correct all of the regulatory violations uncovered by inspectors last summer.

The Iowa Department of Public Health is proposing the Dayton Rescue Squad be issued the fine and a formal warning.

According to the department, state officials performed an on-site inspection of the Dayton Rescue Squad on July 29, 2021. At the time of the inspection, six deficiencies were identified and the service was given 30 days to correct the issues.

The service was cited for failure of the medical director randomly audit, on a quarterly basis, the records related to emergency medical calls; failure to maintain a current personnel roster utilizing a system to ensure all personnel are currently certified as emergency medical service (EMS) providers; failure to establish a policy that requires a complete assessment of patients to determine their transport needs; failure to submit data to the department with a month of services being provided; and failure to ensure medical and patient care supplies are monitored for expiration dates and are cleaned, laundered or disinfected.

According to the department, the rescue squad failed to correct any of the deficiencies, which is, in itself, another violation.

Read more: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2021/12/31/struggling-ambulance-service-faces-fine-while-pleading-for-volunteers/