THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 25, 1995 TAG: 9508250653
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Long : 135 lines
A dispute over paramedics' work conditions has left city officials with a gut-wrenching choice: drastically increase the money spent on Emergency Medical Services or jeopardize the safety of citizens who have come to rely on quick, quality medical help when they dial 911.
The city has a week to change the way its Emergency Medical Services department operates, following a U.S. Department of Labor ruling that the current system violates the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
The City Council has called a special meeting for tonight to discuss the problem.
``We cannot afford to allow this issue to be politicized,'' said Chesapeake Mayor William E. Ward. ``Too much is at stake.''
The Labor Department's ruling apparently came after a complaint from at least one Emergency Medical Services worker.
The problem is the complicated work schedule. Paramedics now generally work 24-hour shifts on a rotating, weekly schedule. Some weeks they work as many as 72 hours, some weeks as little as 32. The average works out to about 56 hours per week.
Many like the system. The blocks of time they have off duty allow them to care for children or to hold down part-time jobs to supplement their incomes.
And, paramedics say, the schedule provides high-quality service. Around the clock, two rescue workers trained in advanced medical techniques are assigned to each of the city's nine ambulances. When citizens dial 911, they are virtually assured of getting help within six minutes.
City officials also like the system because it is cost-effective.
Operating on the belief that rescue workers were exempt from the overtime pay requirements of federal law, as firefighters are, the city did not pay extra for the hours paramedics worked over 40 a week.
But the Labor Department said that's wrong, and has given Chesapeake until Sept. 1 to change the scheduling or begin paying overtime. One estimate puts that at nearly $1 million a year. Firefighters continue to be exempt.
Last week, seven Emergency Medical Services employees filed suit in U.S. District Court, suing for back overtime pay. No amount was specified.
``We feel very strongly that all employees should be paid what they have earned,'' said Andrew M. Sacks, the employees' attorney. ``Particularly those employees who have some of the most critical and stressful jobs in the city.''
But paramedic Susan W. Kendall said most of her colleagues are happy with the arrangement just the way it is.
``We know that the city is in a bind,'' she said. ``The majority of us want to help.''
City officials say they cannot afford to start paying all the overtime that would be necessary to keep paramedics' schedules the same.
``It would be a tremendous financial strain on the city, given the other pressures we face,'' Ward said.
Other area cities' Emergency Medical Services should not be affected by the Labor Department's ruling. Virginia Beach and Suffolk have volunteer systems, and Portsmouth contracts out its service. Norfolk has a system in which firefighters trained in advanced medical techniques also work as paramedics, which allows them to be exempt from overtime rules.
Various proposals have been made to change Chesapeake's system. Although the details differ, most would create a 40-hour work week for paramedics.
City officials have advocated switching them to eight-hour shifts. Workers could choose from day, evening or graveyard shifts.
But that proposal raises a few concerns, including safety.
To cover all the shifts with the same number of paramedics - officials say they can't afford to hire any more - ambulances on the graveyard shift would be staffed with only one worker trained in advanced medical techniques. Firefighters, with only basic medical skills, would be tapped to help when emergency calls came in. That would leave fire trucks short-handed.
If all the firefighters in a station were out on calls, the station's ambulance would be out of commission.
``I personally responded to at least one call this week, where if two advanced people had not responded, the patient would have suffered major disabilities or even died,'' said Robert R. Pugh, a paramedic who is also trained as a firefighter, and chairman of the Emergency Medical Services committee of the Chesapeake Professional Firefighters.
Pugh advocates merging the Fire and Emergency Medical Services departments, and training paramedics and firefighters to do both jobs, much as Norfolk does.
City officials propose to do that eventually. But it will take time, of which they have precious little. For now, they must do something to comply with the Labor Department's rules.
Paramedics are concerned that the proposal for eight-hour shifts would disrupt what has become a way of life for them - a schedule that allows part-time jobs and time with their families.
``If they go to eight-hour shifts, there's going to be a lot of chaos with families,'' said paramedic Kendall. ``In the long run, it's going to all affect patient care.''
Kendall has proposed a different solution, which would solve the city's rub with the Labor Department, keep paramedics' schedules more intact and would not cost any more money. Her plan would have paramedics work one 24-hour and one 16-hour shift per week.
The plan still would leave the graveyard shift understaffed.
``Either way, we're going to be stretched thin,'' Kendall said. MEMO: THE CITY'S OPTIONS
Much like firefighters, Chesapeake paramedics work 24-hour shifts.
That means that at least 18 ambulance workers trained in advanced life
support techniques are on duty around-the-clock to answer 911 calls. Now
the U.S. Department of Labor says Chesapeake's system has to change -
and quick. The city has a few options:
Pay paramedics overtime for the weeks they work more than 40 hours.
Pros: Chesapeake's system could remain exactly the way it is, with no
disruption to paramedics' schedules or to the quality of emergency
service.
Cons: It's expensive. One estimate puts the cost at nearly $1 million
a year, and city officials say they don't have that kind of money.
Combine Fire and Emergency Medical Services departments, with
firefighters trained as paramedics and vice versa.
Pros: Paramedics/firefighters then could work 24-hour shifts without
violating Department of Labor rules, which exempt firefighters. The city
could cover its emergency needs effectively without hiring more people
or paying for overtime. Norfolk is operating such a system now.
Cons: Some Fire Department officials believe workers can't do
double-duty effectively. Training would take time the city might not
have. And the city would be forced to increase benefits for paramedics,
who now have fewer perks than firefighters.
Change the way paramedics work, either by putting them on eight-hour
shifts or just by assigning them fewer long shifts in a week.
Pros: The Department of Labor would be satisfied, and the city would
not have to spend more money or hire more workers.
Cons: Paramedics, many of whom have part-time jobs to supplement
their incomes, don't like the idea of eight-hour shifts. Also, either
plan could pose a safety hazard. On the graveyard shift, from around
midnight to 7 a.m., only about nine paramedics trained in advanced life
support techniques would be available citywide - one per ambulance.
Firefighters, trained only in basic techniques, would be asked to team
up with the paramedics on calls. That would leave fire trucks
short-staffed, and critically injured or ill patients without the often
crucial care of two advanced paramedics.
by CNB