South Pinellas 9/12 Patriots leader Barbara Haselden, at the podium, moderates a panel on funding for Emergency Medical Services in the county Jan. 29. On the panel are, from left, Pinellas County Commissioner Nancy Bostock; Capt. Jim Millican of Lealman Fire Rescue; Chief Jim Angle of Palm Harbor Fire Rescue; Sunstar representatives Debbie Vass, director of clinical services, and John Peterson, director of operations; Pinellas County Assistant Administrator Maureen Freaney and Craig Hare, county EMS division manager.
PINELLAS PARK – The South Pinellas 9/12 Patriots hosted a forum Jan. 29 between stakeholders in the controversy over funding and costs for the county’s Emergency Medical Services.
About 50 people attended the forum at the Pinellas Park Public Library. South Pinellas leader Barbara Haselden mediated.
Pinellas County Commissioner Nancy Bostock opened the discussion by giving background on the rising cost of EMS.
Capt. Jim Millican of Lealman Fire Rescue explained the plan he drafted with Lt. Scott Sanford of Palm Harbor Rescue to allow firefighters to take over transport services. Pinellas County Assistant Administrator Maureen Freaney explained the county’s position.
Finally, a representative from Sunstar explained the company’s role as a private contractor responsible for patient transport.
The audience had a chance to ask the panelists questions.
To watch a video of the forum, visit www.912pinellas.org and click on the link “Our 912 Event Videos” in the left side menu.
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