Washington County Regional Ambulance Authority - Central EMS

Complaints about performance: was called for assistance on 9-19- due to me passing out(this was days after a bilateral mastectomy) My daughter called because I was unconscious and she couldn't see me breathing By the time the ambulance arrived I was coming around but very disoriented Complaint 1) the ambulance attendants and firefighters stood in our living room watching the T.Vthat was on football games while person attended me That doesn't seem too professional to watch T.Vrather than work The woman performed some heart tests, basic tests and then asked if I wanted to go to the hospitalWhy would my family call if they didn't think I needed quick medical treatment? (I've never fainted before) I was taken to Washington Regional by ambulanceComplaint 2) the attending doctor asked the ambulance attendant what happened and she stated that I had a double hysterectomy! She was the lead ambulance attendant and she didn't even realize that she'd made a mistake I was still groggy but had to correct her and to explain to the doctor what had happenedThe attendant's reaction was that she really looked puzzledShouldn't the lead attendant know basic anatomy? Scary! To sum up my entire family was unimpressed with the ambulance service and their knowledge of anatomy or skill or professionalism Complaints about billing and misrepresentation of company: Complaint 1) the bill was extremely high, here is the breakdown: BLS emergency Base Rate I was explained that it cost a lot to run an ambulance service, that there were lots of rules and regulations that cost a lot of money...from CFO of company Mileage ambulance miles cost 59.20, IV Admin 61.32, Cardiac Monitor 1-leads 101.77, ALS routine disposable supplies Total bill 1063.50, insurance paid which paid for all but of listed services minus the BLS Service I mailed a check for and in memo marked final payment which was accepted by the company however they still billed me for the remainder of the balance or would be turned over to a collection agency Complaint 2) I called and spoke to the secretary and the CEO to discuss the bill and was told that [redacted] would call me back He eventually called me back a couple of weeks later and when I asked him why the bill was so high just to have them show up at my door He explained that it was due to government regulations and that they operated like a charity I pressed and asked if he was a 501c or set up as a charity and that I wanted to see the breakdown of salaries, operating costs, etcsince he stated that it operated like a charity He misrepresented his company with those statements He then stated that he receives government assistance and must follow all of their rules which are costly I asked are you a 501c, a charity or for profit and he wouldn't answer the question He just stated that I must pay the bill or go to collection It seems that all of the charges are excessive nearly to drive miles! nearly just to show up to my house (it's within miles of my home)! Complaint 3) If Central EMS is contracted with the city and it receives government aide then shouldn't the service be free (798.68) or there should be other optionsI understand the other charges, they were for actual services rendered I will NOT recommend this service! Terrible service and highway robbery on rates

Complaints about performance: 911 was called for assistance on 9-19-2015 due to me passing out(this was 5 days after a bilateral mastectomy). My daughter called because I was unconscious and she couldn't see me breathing. By the time the ambulance arrived I was coming around but very disoriented. Complaint 1) the ambulance attendants and firefighters stood in our living room watching the T.V. that was on football games while 1 person attended me. That doesn't seem too professional to watch T.V. rather than work.
The woman performed some heart tests, basic tests and then asked if I wanted to go to the hospital. Why would my family call 911 if they didn't think I needed quick medical treatment? (I've never fainted before) I was taken to Washington Regional by ambulance. Complaint 2) the attending doctor asked the ambulance attendant what happened and she stated that I had a double hysterectomy! She was the lead ambulance attendant and she didn't even realize that she'd made a mistake. I was still groggy but had to correct her and to explain to the doctor what had happened. The attendant's reaction was that she really looked puzzled. Shouldn't the lead attendant know basic anatomy? Scary!
To sum up my entire family was unimpressed with the ambulance service and their knowledge of anatomy or skill or professionalism.
Complaints about billing and misrepresentation of company: Complaint 1) the bill was extremely high, here is the breakdown: BLS emergency Base Rate 798.68. I was explained that it cost a lot to run an ambulance service, that there were lots of rules and regulations that cost a lot of money...from CFO of company. Mileage ambulance 5 miles cost 59.20, IV Admin 61.32, Cardiac Monitor 1-3 leads 101.77, ALS routine disposable supplies 42.53. Total bill 1063.50, insurance paid 243.89 which paid for all but 20.93 of listed services minus the BLS Service. I mailed a check for 20.43 and in memo marked final payment which was accepted by the company however they still billed me for the remainder of the balance 798.68 or would be turned over to a collection agency. Complaint 2) I called and spoke to the secretary and the CEO to discuss the bill and was told that [redacted] would call me back. He eventually called me back a couple of weeks later and when I asked him why the bill was so high 798.68 just to have them show up at my door. He explained that it was due to government regulations and that they operated like a charity. I pressed and asked if he was a 501c or set up as a charity and that I wanted to see the breakdown of salaries, operating costs, etc. since he stated that it operated like a charity. He misrepresented his company with those statements. He then stated that he receives government assistance and must follow all of their rules which are costly. I asked are you a 501c, a charity or for profit and he wouldn't answer the question. He just stated that I must pay the bill or go to collection.
It seems that all of the charges are excessive nearly 60.00 to drive 5 miles! nearly 800.00 just to show up to my house (it's within 5 miles of my home)!
Complaint 3) If Central EMS is contracted with the city and it receives government aide then shouldn't the service be free (798.68) or there should be other options. I understand the other charges, they were for actual services rendered.

I will NOT recommend this service! Terrible service and highway robbery on rates.