Jonathan Beyer

For most disease processes. Cardiac arrest is one that I would put in the, that time makes sense. Because in cardiac arrest, for every minute that you go without CPR being done, there's about a 10% increase in mortality and decrease in survivable brain function.

For most disease processes. Cardiac arrest is one that I would put in the, that time makes sense. Because in cardiac arrest, for every minute that you go without CPR being done, there's about a 10% increase in mortality and decrease in survivable brain function.

I tell the medics, and this is how I presented it, is consider lights and sirens a medical therapy. For every medicine that you give, there is an indication, and there's a contraindication. If I were going to say, I'm going to give you epinephrine, well, why would I give you epinephrine? And the benefits have to outweigh the risks. So I wanted to think of lights and sirens that way.

I tell the medics, and this is how I presented it, is consider lights and sirens a medical therapy. For every medicine that you give, there is an indication, and there's a contraindication. If I were going to say, I'm going to give you epinephrine, well, why would I give you epinephrine? And the benefits have to outweigh the risks. So I wanted to think of lights and sirens that way.

It is a high-risk procedure. When are we going to do it? When the risks are outweighed by the benefits.

It is a high-risk procedure. When are we going to do it? When the risks are outweighed by the benefits.

So cardiac arrest, people choking, respiratory arrest, things where seconds could make a difference. Yep, that is worth the risk to try to get someone there quicker. But other things like, well, she fell and broke her hip. Okay, that's an emergency and that person needs to get to a hospital. I don't doubt that. Is the three minutes going to make a difference in that person's outcome? No.

So cardiac arrest, people choking, respiratory arrest, things where seconds could make a difference. Yep, that is worth the risk to try to get someone there quicker. But other things like, well, she fell and broke her hip. Okay, that's an emergency and that person needs to get to a hospital. I don't doubt that. Is the three minutes going to make a difference in that person's outcome? No.

I wiped out about 50% of the priority one calls in Berrien County.

I wiped out about 50% of the priority one calls in Berrien County.

When I instituted the change, I didn't really have much of a problem. 911 didn't have a problem with this because it just was a difference in coding for them. It didn't affect them. The medics themselves really liked it because the medics were like, yep, most of these things we are going on are not priority.

When I instituted the change, I didn't really have much of a problem. 911 didn't have a problem with this because it just was a difference in coding for them. It didn't affect them. The medics themselves really liked it because the medics were like, yep, most of these things we are going on are not priority.

Except... What ended up happening, and I'm not exactly sure how this got out, it went through all the proper channels on my side, like medical control in the hospital in the county, so that was okay. Um...

Except... What ended up happening, and I'm not exactly sure how this got out, it went through all the proper channels on my side, like medical control in the hospital in the county, so that was okay. Um...

But it started getting publicized, and I don't exactly know how, but it started showing up on the hospital Facebook page about Berrien County Medical Control is killing people with slow responses. And, oh boy.

But it started getting publicized, and I don't exactly know how, but it started showing up on the hospital Facebook page about Berrien County Medical Control is killing people with slow responses. And, oh boy.

Literally, they were out on the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, just interviewing people walking by going, what do you think about ambulances coming to your house slower? And of course, people exploded.

Literally, they were out on the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, just interviewing people walking by going, what do you think about ambulances coming to your house slower? And of course, people exploded.

It's like, I can't believe this. And, you know, this is terrible. Of course, I want an ambulance there fast. And the hospital started getting a lot of flack. Some of it was very nasty. So people started on Facebook attacking the hospital. Oh, this is Lakeland just killing patients again. You know, just very bad vitriol.

It's like, I can't believe this. And, you know, this is terrible. Of course, I want an ambulance there fast. And the hospital started getting a lot of flack. Some of it was very nasty. So people started on Facebook attacking the hospital. Oh, this is Lakeland just killing patients again. You know, just very bad vitriol.