I've been reading some of the articles and posts about the possible take over of Amarillo EMS by AMR. As some have posted, the city needs to look at some of the places where AMR have been. They use to be, key works being "use to be" the contracted 911 provider for the City of Ft. Worth and the 13 cities that the MedStar system services, they lost that. Rural Metro took over, which was not any better. Rural Metro has lost everything they had in Texas and was run off of the state. AMR is GUILTY of Medicare FRAUD and had to pay back how many millions of dollars...your tax money that was obtained by FRAUD...

The City should keep the EMS local. If the hospital bills as a hospital service, they will not get as much back in payments like they would if they were billing as a private EMS provider...these are 2 different types of providers. Granted, anyone that operates an EMS service is not going to make lots of money, but if run and billed correctly, it can make enough to keep it open and out of the red. I'm sure that the hospital was non-profit, thus they could write off that amount. Even the profit based could write it off.

The city should look at other places where AMR is based.

Imagine working for a company 20 years and then be told you're being sold to the highest bidder. Our paramedics have to keep up more continuing edication hours than any other medical profession yet are paid less than all of them. They have endured mandatory overtime and denied vacations yet have remained loyal to a company that has tossed them out like day old garbage. Speak up Amarillo!! Do not let another money-hungry company snatch up our beloved medics to mistreat and underpay them until all our experience is gone. Make sure these current men and women are the ones responding to your emergency. The city should scoop up this service and shower them with the attention they deserve. Vote, write, shout!! Now is the time for the city to hear your voice!

The quality of our ambulance service lies in the hands of the city commission. By all reports, AMR is going to run the service to turn a profit and likely at all costs. I don't think our citizens want to take a chance and hand over the service to a company that may not have our best interests in mind. I can assure you that the Amarillo Fire Department could run the service in a professional manner and it's members truly care about the citizens of Amarillo. The fire department already responds to most medical calls and could provide professional compassionate service to the citizens when they need it most.

As a medic of 26 years, 19 of those in the panhandle, I think the city of Amarillo needs to go talk to some of the towns that AMR services and also take a look at the equipment that they provide. It will only take one look and the deal will be off. I have worked for a private company and we had the best equipment money could buy but we were a small company. When we took over a Rual Metro area the ambulances were nasty and falling apart along with all the other equipment. I know alot of the medics at AMS and the city needs to listen to them and act on their requests. Amarillo has the best medics and firefighters so it only makes since to put them together. Two goods makes a GREAT!!!!!!

The reason AMS runs in the red every year is because the hospital refuses to bill correctly, and when they do bill they fail to collect! They go for the $50,000 bill and write off the $1000 bill. I know this because THAT IS WHAT THEY TOLD US THEY DO!!! AMR wouldn't be chomping at the bit if they didn't think they could make a profit. The question is this: Do you want to pad the pockets of the CEO of AMR or put the money back into your own community? To me it's a no-brainer...

I think the city should take over the ambulance service.Why should some company come from out of town and take over when they don't know about Amarillo Texas. The ambulance is part of the city services just like the firemen. I appreciate them all.

The ambulance service sould be in the hands of the city and not AMR

The city and NWTH supervision need to look at all the issues and speak to those in the trenches helping the citizens of Amarillo. The paramedics have valued points to offer. The CEO also needs to talk to services that have been acquired by the company wanting to buy them....Why would the city want to take over a program NWTH admits is deeply in the red every year! Thats the reason they want to discard the program in the first place.

attaching the AMS to the AFD would increase the value and capabilities of both entities involved. The paramedics would be able to take care of the burn and smoke inhalation victims while the firefighters coninued to fight the fires and perform the extracations. The added source of captial for the city, by being able to charge for ambulance transportation,could allow for the posibility of lower tax rates. I am all for the city owning/operating the ambulance service.

We have an excellent Fire Department and I feel it would be a great asset for the City to take over the Ambulance Service. I have heard several negative stories about AMR from persons in other cities, and do not feel it would be in our citizen's best interest to allow AMR to take over.

I dont want another private ambulance service that is worried about the dollar, AMS has given the city good care but the paramedics and their equipment have been run into the ground. The company (UHS) is not willing to take care of its people and equipment, how else do they think they could make any money at it. Any business owner knows that they can make "numbers" say what they want. I am in favor of the city taking the service over it will in my opinion will keep the service at least as good as it has been in the past.

Thanks for the poll Pronews 7, hopefully will show some community involvement.

city should out this before the voters. This is an issue that need time to view all options and should be presented to amarillo citizens to vote yes or no . It should not be left up to nwth ceo to decide.

city should out this before the voters. This is an issue that need time to view all options and should be presented to amarillo citizens to vote yes or no . It should not be left up to nwth ceo th decide.

Pronews 7 need to put up a viewer poll and ask citizens if they would be willing to vote for the city to take over the ambulance service.