Local Ambulance Service Expresses Support for Quincy, WA Hospital One-Year Levy

QUINCY, Wash., Oct. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The owner of Protection-1 (Brian Williamson), which is the primary provider of Ambulance Services for Grant County Hospital District No. 2 (i.e…the Quincy Valley Medical Center) is urging citizens in the greater Quincy, Washington area to strongly consider the importance of continuing to have an Emergency Room in Quincy, and as such to support the Hospital's one-year Proposition 1 Levy.

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Stated Brian Williamson, "The stabilization of patients at Quincy Valley Medical Center is critical in saving lives.  There are time sensitive treatments that need to be done in Quincy or the patient risks dying in transport to a higher level hospital.   Some examples of this would be patients suffering from cardiac arrest, life threatening arrhythmias, and myocardial infarctions.  The local Quincy hospital has treatments available to assist with the initial stabilization of the patient followed by ambulance transfer to area hospitals if needed….Trauma patients also benefit from initial stabilization with blood products, chest tube placements and other available care that is all currently available locally."

Williamson indicated that he is concerned about some rumors in the community such as if Levy doesn't pass and the Quincy Hospital were to close, then the ambulance service can easily take patients to Wenatchee, Ephrata, or Moses Lake.   "This really is not a good situation for both the patients or the ambulance service as we would be required to add units while also taking units out of service for at least two hours per transport…..by closing the Quincy Hospital we would be transferring the burden onto the ambulance service and other hospitals in the area….It would also potentially effect patient outcomes as many treatments are time sensitive and the patient risks debilitating complications for example paralysis from a stroke, congestive heart failure from a myocardial infarction, or loss of limb from a traumatic injury.  You may think that a 30 minute transport doesn't seem long but spending 30 minutes with a critical patient in the back of an ambulance seems like 2 hours.   A lot can happen to a patient in 30 minutes without initial stabilization," Williamson explained.

Another rumor Williamson has heard is that the ambulance service simply can transport the patients to the Community Health Clinic in Quincy.  "Medicare and most insurance companies are very specific that ambulances are not allowed to transport patients to clinics as it is not a paid destination – they are required to transport patients to the closest, most appropriate hospital," stated Williamson.

Brian Williamson also exclaimed, "...if Quincy Valley Medical Center closes - yes lives will be lost, yes people will be upset, yes people will lose jobs, yes people will suffer from debilitating disease and injuries and yes the financial burden will be passed onto others….Columbia Basin Hospital, Samaritan Medical Center, Central Washington Hospital….Please support Quincy Valley Medical Center one-year Levy.  Your life may depend on them one day."

For more information, please contact Brian Williamson of Protection-1 at 509-289-9876 or Email.

About Protection-1 LLC

Protection-1 LLC is a local ambulance service located in Grant County, Washington, providing service to the communities of Quincy, George, Crescent Bar, Sunland Estates, Winchester, etc. and The Gorge Amphitheatre, and works closely with the City of Quincy, Grant County Fire District #3, Grant County Public Hospital District #2, other Fire Districts within Grant County, and other Hospitals in the region.   Protection-1 LLC is dedicated to providing excellent care to each area that we serve. Paramedic Brian Williamson owner of Protection-1 LLC has over 12 years of experience as a Paramedic in the Quincy Valley and provides the operational, technological, business, and financial management of the company.

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SOURCE Protection-1 LLC