WASSP-7 RESO 23-201 RESOLUTION 23-201, URGING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONTINUE TO CONTRACT WITH AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY-MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE COUNTY OF MAUI (WASSP-7)
I am in support of Resolution 23-201. I’m confused and disappointed as to why this Reso wasn’t adopted on September 15th, 2023, when the Council received an overwhelming amount of written and oral testimonies from AMR employees as well as the community in support of this action item. To delay a time-sensitive matter such as this + require a traumatized and grieving community to babysit an item as important as this and to then have to repeat their in-favor testimony in Committee and another future Council meeting is not only redundant and unnecessarily exhaustive but ultimately highly questionable behavior.
To reiterate, countless constituents have already expressed how vital it is to continue the contract with AMR and specifically expressed their detailed concerns with Falck. AMR has been serving our Maui County communities for 30+ years and has an established well-oiled machine operation including a group of employees who work well together and are trusted by each other as well as by their community. Why shatter that, especially in such a fragile time such as now?
The continued gross negligence of poor decisions being made by people on outer islands who are not directly impacted by such decisions need to be (re)directed and guided by the very body who represents our people and right now that is in the hands of each Council Member.
Downgrading the quality of care + changing ambulance provider is not protecting our people and is literally life changing to those who find themselves needing to call 911, in the future. Basic versus advanced lifesaving efforts is in fact a life and death situation for those of us in the Hāna or Maui Komohana communities where we are hours away from the only hospital on island. We need lifesaving efforts by highly trained experienced Paramedics with the highest reputation – and that is achieved by continuing the contract with AMR.
It is a continued disservice to the people of Maui County to downgrade the level of care as well as introduce a new company who has a negative reputation of slow response times and Paramedics being replaced with EMT’s etc. Falck would not only need to fire and rehire, they admitted the need to bring employees from the continent who would then not only be competing with our very own residents for employment, but they would also be competing with our residents for housing, which is already its own separate crisis.
This was the easiest Resolution to pass with a unanimous vote almost a month ago—let’s listen to the voices of our people.
Aloha County Council Members,
I am in support of Resolution 23-201. I’m confused and disappointed as to why this Reso wasn’t adopted on September 15th, 2023, when the Council received an overwhelming amount of written and oral testimonies from AMR employees as well as the community in support of this action item. To delay a time-sensitive matter such as this + require a traumatized and grieving community to babysit an item as important as this and to then have to repeat their in-favor testimony in Committee and another future Council meeting is not only redundant and unnecessarily exhaustive but ultimately highly questionable behavior.
To reiterate, countless constituents have already expressed how vital it is to continue the contract with AMR and specifically expressed their detailed concerns with Falck. AMR has been serving our Maui County communities for 30+ years and has an established well-oiled machine operation including a group of employees who work well together and are trusted by each other as well as by their community. Why shatter that, especially in such a fragile time such as now?
The continued gross negligence of poor decisions being made by people on outer islands who are not directly impacted by such decisions need to be (re)directed and guided by the very body who represents our people and right now that is in the hands of each Council Member.
Downgrading the quality of care + changing ambulance provider is not protecting our people and is literally life changing to those who find themselves needing to call 911, in the future. Basic versus advanced lifesaving efforts is in fact a life and death situation for those of us in the Hāna or Maui Komohana communities where we are hours away from the only hospital on island. We need lifesaving efforts by highly trained experienced Paramedics with the highest reputation – and that is achieved by continuing the contract with AMR.
It is a continued disservice to the people of Maui County to downgrade the level of care as well as introduce a new company who has a negative reputation of slow response times and Paramedics being replaced with EMT’s etc. Falck would not only need to fire and rehire, they admitted the need to bring employees from the continent who would then not only be competing with our very own residents for employment, but they would also be competing with our residents for housing, which is already its own separate crisis.
This was the easiest Resolution to pass with a unanimous vote almost a month ago—let’s listen to the voices of our people.
Mahalo for your time and consideration,
Jenn Pederson
Nāpili Resident
See attached letter