| 1) Why does a Fire Engine come with the Ambulance?
The fire engine comes to assist the ambulance crew. The ambulance is staffed with 2 firefighter/paramedics while the engine has 3 firefighters who are also EMTs or paramedics. As EMTs and Paramedics, we plan for the unexpected and bring extra hands to provide the best possible care. The extra hands from the fire engine also make it easier to carry our equipment on the emergency call.
2) Why does a different towns ambulance or fire truck arrive when I call 9-1-1?
Prospect Heights Fire District works with surrounding towns to help each other when we are busy. If our ambulance or fire truck is unavailable to respond then next closest fire department will respond to provide the assistance needed. Likewise if a surrounding town needs our assistance we will respond to help them.
3) Which hospitals can the Prospect Heights F.D. Ambulance take me to?
Depending on the patients medical condition we can transport patients to the following hospitals:
Northwest Community Hospital Arlington Hts., IL
Glenbrook Hospital Glenview, IL
Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL
*State law requires that Critical and unstable patients be taken to the closest facility which is properly staffed to stabilize and treat their condition.*
4) Why can't the ambulance take me (or family member) to the hospital I want?
As always we need to provide the highest quality of care to all patients, and therefore patients with life threatening or possibly life threading conditions need to be taken to the closest hospital to be stabilized.
Even though your doctor may not be at the hospital the ambulance takes you to, the emergency doctor will still call and consult with your personal physician.
If you request to go to a hospital other than the closest one, then the paramedic must still make sure the emergency room physician feels that the patient is stable enough to make the trip.
5) How long does it take to become a Paramedic?
The road to becoming a Paramedic all starts by becoming an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). This course is taught over one college semester with 150 hours of classroom time. It teaches how to care for the basic life support needs of patients. Some of the skills learned as an EMT are:
Patient Assessmentnt
Care for common conditions and injurieses
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Airway Management
Childbirth
Once all 120 hours of coursework are completed EMT students must complete 24 hours of emergency room clinical time where they work under the direction of the nurses and physicians. Once all clinical and classroom criteria are met the student can sit for the state licensure exam.
Now licensed as and EMT, 6 months of field experience is required before the EMT can go to paramedic school.
Paramedic school is a 9-month full-time commitment consisting of studying, going to class, hospital clinical, and over 300 hours of In-Field ride time with an experienced paramedic. Once the student has met all in-field objectives they are cleared to take the state licensing exam, and upon successful completion receives a state paramedic license.
6) I need a copy of my ambulance report how do I get one?
To obtain a copy of your EMS report you must complete the HIPAA request form and return it to the fire station. For additional information please contact Fire Chief Drew Smith at (847) 253-8060
Your Health Information Privacy is very important to us, to review our policy please click here:(HIPAA NOTICE)
To obtain a copy of the NFIRS fire report please complete the fire report request form and return it to the fire station.
7) Who do I contact with billing question?
All billing inquiries must be be directed to Andres Medical Billing. DO NOT contact the fire station regarding Billing issues!
Andres Medical Billing can be reached at http://www.andresmedical.com/
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