Emergency Response
Skagit County Medic One not only supports Basic Life Support
training to Fire Departments, but also ensures that Advanced Life Support
care is available to Skagit County citizens by using the Medic One levy
funds. Advanced Life Support care usually comes in the form of a
paramedic in an ambulance. This means that a paramedic can provide
advanced life saving health care services outside of the hospital, including
provision of medications and invasive procedures, bringing an extension of
the Emergency Room directly to the patient.
Skagit County Medic One contracts with Anacortes Fire
Department and Aero-Skagit Emergency Services, Inc. in Concrete to provide
Advanced Life Support Emergency Ambulance Response to their areas.
Skagit County Medic One also provides direct service to the central area
of Skagit County via Central Skagit Medic One. Skagit County Medic
One also cooperates with Mount Vernon Fire Department, who provides
Advanced Life Support via their fire engines.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), who provide Basic
Life Support care, also fill an import role in the system, by responding
early on scene with Fire Departments, providing back-up response to
Advanced Life Support Ambulances with Basic Life Support Ambulances and/or
being an extra set of trained hands on-scene for the paramedic.
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Interfacility Transfers
Skagit County Medic One not only provides Emergency Response to the
citizens of Skagit County, but also ensures that each patient's medical
transport needs are met after they reach the hospital. Skagit County
Medic One often provides patient transfers between medical facilities and
even out of county, as resources allow. EMTs and Paramedics provide
this service caringly, according to the medical needs as prescribed by a
physician.
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Patient Accounts
Skagit County Medic One maintains patient records and processes
billing for Central Skagit Medic One.
These records are held highly confidential and billing is processed
sensitively in accordance with Medicare and Medicaid Guidelines.
While the Medic One levy subsidizes Advanced Level Ambulance Support, it
only provides a portion of the funds necessary for each agency to provide
this service. Skagit County Medic One strives to respect each
patient and allows for a variety of financial positions.
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Statistics
Skagit County Medic One continually monitors and re-evaluates its
response procedures to provide the highest level of care in the fastest
time possible. We daily strive to exceed the accepted norms for our
industry.
Skagit County Medic One's current standard for Advanced
Life Support Ambulance Response Time is as such; at the 90th
percentile, time from the moment of dispatch until the provider’s
ambulance comes to a complete stop at the scene should not exceed:
- 8 minutes in urban areas and within the incorporated cities
- 15 minutes in suburban areas
- 30 minutes in rural areas
- 90 minutes in wilderness areas.
The various population densities described in this Response
Time standard are defined according to the Skagit County EMS Commission's
Population Density
Map, which interprets the most recently available census data
according to Washington State regulation.
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