Comments about ‘Murray launches ambulance service’

why don't the fire departments just fight fires? maybe because there aren't many fires anymore with building codes and safety precautions. then why don't we cut their budget and come up with a new way to handle fires? this is another example of big government working against private business. our fire department will not be able to break even at this and will cost our county millions of dollars. everyone loves fire fighters and they can do no wrong in the public's eyes, but we must sit back and think about what is going on here. will they next start putting safety officers on the rigs? if so, will they take over police? we must focus our attention on what their purpose is and keep them to that. watch out for big government pushing out small business, that leads to socialism and it has failed everywhere it has been attempted.

More like general idiot.

The problem with Gold Cross has been their lack of service. This article may praise them, but it's fake praise

Gold Cross never provided high level care, they provided basic emergency care, in essence a driver and someone who can do EMT functions.

The problem with that? Fire personnel were having to respond, and, ride in the ambulance while the fire engine followed.

By having paramedic teams on an ambulance, there's no need to take an entire fire truck out of service so they can follow an ambulance to the hospital.

Southwest Ambulance provides basic level care in Salt Lake City without a fire response, only on more serious cases does SLC Fire come out.

Emergency response has NEVER been a private industry, nor should it. The fact that Utah for so long let Gold Cross monopolize the service is what was wrong with the system. They were no "small business", they were a goliath who survived in spite of their poor service because they were the only option. Bravo to Southwest for breaking down the competition door, and to departments in the valley for telling Gold Cross they weren't going to take it anymore!

Progress, now you are taking Firefighters out of our city to transport to hospitals thoughout the valley. What will be the cost to maintain,stock,and pay salaries for those nine medics,plus liability cost per year. Citizens pay taxes for those costs and now we are going to be billed $800-1200 from the city for a transport. Do we pay for them to put fires out in our homes? Sad that none of the citizens of these Counties get to weigh-in on these decisions before they go into effect.

Just about anyone can read between the lines...More and more Counties are looking to provide better service to the community than is currently delivered by Gold Cross. As there has been virtually no competition for transport services, Gold Cross has had little or no incentive to improve quality, cost, or efficiency. It is time for a change.

If a paramedic is transporting me to the hospital that is an advanced life support (ALS) service. that cost the citizen more. if every ambulance has paramedics then is every transport an als transport? if so, then you will pay alot more then from gold cross or southwest. Cities will be double charging the citizens. First to pay for the paramedics and their salaries and then for for each transport. Double taxation at its best.

A couple of items...

Gold Cross was sucking the money away from Murray. Murray is capturing money that was leaving the city anyway. It is actually a way for the fire department to earn back costs as its quite profitable. They are ALS and BLS based on what is needed. Gold Cross was BLS and if you had trouble on the way to hospital a fire agency would meet them in some parking lot to give ALS.

Either way it should have been up to the citizens of murray to decide how the money from their taxes was spent. Way too many hands in the cookie jar if you ask me.

Folks need to read the article. Gold Cross will do transfers out of the city and this will allow Murray's ambulance to stay in city. Service is the key. As far as the "county" having a say in what a "city" does is, need to understand your local government. Counties citizens have no say in what Murray city does.

The way I read it, Gold Cross will do non-emergency. If a patient wants to go to Salt Lake Regional,University,Alta View,or Primary that's were Murray will have to transport. But hey if your'e ok with being taxed by the City and billed by the City for transport and firefighters leaving for hours at a time.