Medic 39 from the RVFD Website

This Reader Note  from Tom Moore concerns the November 2, 2010 Ballot Question A on the Emergency Medical Services Transport Fee.

When I served as an ambulance driver for the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, one of my specialties (other than splendid medical care) was convincing reluctant patients to go to the hospital in my ambulance when I judged it necessary for them do so. I enjoyed the challenge, and was called upon to practice it more often than you might guess.

It is a delicate discussion to conduct — you want to make the point to the patient that their injury or illness could become quite serious or fatal if ignored, yet you don’t want to go overboard and frighten them to death on the spot. It was a difficult enough task without the significant added complication of trying to explain to a seriously sick or injured patient the details of a county ambulance fee.

I am convinced that I saved a few lives over the years by persuading my patients to go to the hospital to get the care they needed. I am similarly convinced that an ambulance fee will cost lives over time by being  just one more reason why ambulance patients refuse treatment.

I strongly urge a “No” vote on Question A.

Tom Moore

This is a Reader Note. We welcome submissions on all sorts of things — shopping, restaurants, performances, art, cultural events, and more. Rules: it should be in Rockville, and you should try to be nice. Get in touch with us us if you would like to submit something!

Here’s one by Rockville Central friend Tom Moore. I am so glad Tom found this shot . . . I have a thing for this statue!