SA Firefighter

Quote from: paramedicals on February 12, 2012, 01:41:30 PM

It's all good being a arm chair/recliner expert and gee are there a few here. The business failed because laws were changed that took revenue and business opportunities for PTS away. It was impossible to compete in the SA pre-hospital  market when you compete against volunteers and worse companies that don't pay their staff award wages as a minimum.

Paramedicals (?medboy) be careful when making broad statements.  Given volunteers are not in the PTS sector and, with Paramedical Services SA leaving the market, IMS Ambulance being the only remaining private PTS service that is active, members of this forum could perceive your comments as relating to us.

IMS pays ALL staff under the Federal Award (Ambulance & Patient Transport Industry) and the NES guidelines.  In fact, our staff are paid higher than Award as we classify higher than PTS Officer and ensure minimum qualifications (higher than SA Health requirements).  We also ensure two qualified officers are on board all Ambulance vehicles (not solo officer patient transports regularly witnessed by Paramedical Services SA).

As for the other points.  Ambulance Cover terms and conditions were always going to change (and you were told early on not to bank on it being a revenue).

To point the finger of blame everywhere but in-house demonstrates a lack of commercial perspective.

Taking a parting shot at volunteers or blaming them is also a bit rich given the markets and level of services they provide. If you consider volunteer organisations as competition then you have probably missed the point altogether.

Paramedicals, if you are aware of any organisation paying below Award then ring Fair Work Australia and do something about it.

Disorderly you are getting confused with the other company.

Firstly, IMS does not currently have contracts with Nursing Homes and does not perform inbound cases. Private hospital transfers only. We attend RAH but only for admission of a patient out of a private into public 'or' for outpatients/appointments at RAH.  So an inbound elderly patient to RAH post fall is the other provider..who do have direct contracts with a few Nursing Homes.

The other provider also reportedly uses 'paper sheet' type covers on their stretchers (you will have to ask them why???).  A few hospitals have commented on this practice by the other provider and held similar views regarding the issue of transferring on to a bed from stretcher.

IMS has NEVER transferred a patient without sheets...and our crews.being predominantly SAAS personnel we adopt identical standards ATS/PTS.

Please get your facts correct. Check the uniform and vehicle before you decide to post comments misrepresenting our company.

Boredy & CrashnDash, I just wanted to set the record straight:-

IMS is not associated in any way with WorkCare or the former employer.  I can assure you that the IMS directors (of which I am one) have a very different approach to business. 

The "couple of guys" you refer to in your posting are well known to me and are somewhat in competition (a private company). As existing SAAS Paramedics / ICP's, I would also assume they may be dismissive of IMS as a new company operating in the non-emergency field.  Personally, I like them. Professionally though, we have to protect our client and business base.

Finally, the "guy" seeking a "casual job" was not a genuine applicant and I had the distinct feeling he was fishing.  The conversation did involve me asking the direct questions if he was affiliated or associated with any other companies (due to protection of IP and client information) .... there was no "bagging" of any parties as suggested in your post.  If he came away with a feeling of having little information ... he would have been correct!!  If he had taken the time to read the job advertisement in full and looked at the website www.industrialmedics.com.au he could have figured it out pretty easily.

Boredy... I have read your work for years and you clearly keep a finger on the pulse with SAAS, Private Ambulance and related issues. All I ask is before posting materials that lead people in your forum(s)to make inaccurate judgements, please check the facts and make sure anything you have to say is first hand.