Commission discusses dispatch protocol for paid ambulance services amid ethics concerns

County leaders discussed how dispatch should handle requests that involve paid ambulance services versus volunteer rescue squads, with speakers warning that dispatching paid services without caller consent could create ethical concerns and affect volunteer departments’ grant eligibility.

Unidentified Speaker 4 described an incident where Northamore Rescue (a paid service referenced in the meeting) responded even though the caller requested Lamar Ambulance. "If they go on their own, even after them knowing that ... we may have to create something if they specifically ask for LAS that we just turn that and give that number to them and let you call their ambulance for yourself because I mean that gets us into a legality," S4 said.

Unidentified Speaker 2 argued that dispatch should avoid favoring paid services, recommending that dispatchers provide callers with the paid provider’s phone number if the caller requests that service directly, rather than proactively dispatching a paid service. Speakers noted volunteer squads can lose grant funding tied to call volume if they are bypassed, which may affect their eligibility for certain grants.

No formal policy was adopted at the meeting; multiple participants agreed that staff should not unilaterally change protocol to accommodate a private service and that clearer language for dispatchers is needed to avoid perceived favoritism. Board members asked staff to preserve neutrality and to consult existing protocol language before making any changes.