Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 6, 1990                   TAG: 9006060337
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: SHARON HODGE SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium

BOOSTED RESCUE SERVICES URGED

County and city officials took no action on the report, which was prepared by RAM Communications of Woodbridge, N.J. The firm was hired in August for $19,976 to evaluate the quality of emergency medical care.

The findings described the coordination and operation of the four rescue teams serving the Martinsville area as "haphazard and catch-as-catch-can."

A combined meeting of the Martinsville City Council and the Henry County Board of Supervisors was told Tuesday that the problems uncovered were not unique to the Martinsville area. The study said rural rescue services nationwide suffered from understaffing, long response time, insufficient training and poor coordination. Over the past year, city residents have requested that City Council hire professional paramedics to assist the all-volunteer crews.

The study supported that idea, calling for paid supplemental crews to work during weekdays. According to the report, business hours during the day are the toughest time for volunteers to respond to life-threatening calls. Other recommendations included hiring a training coordinator and creating a joint organization to manage rescue workers in both jurisdictions.

City Manager George Brown said he did not agree with all of the findings, but did not say which recommendations he opposed. Mayor L.D. Oakes pointed out that neither the city nor county government was required to provide such medical services.