Bend FD: New ‘tiered’ medic response already benefiting

Thursday marked the first day of full operation of the Bend Fire Department’s new Basic Life Support tiered response system, a move that officials say already has shown benefits in terms of response times – a crucial, life-saving measurement.

“This program has already resulted in quicker response times, better station reliability and more appropriate resource allocation, in the month that it has been in partial operation,” said Battalion Chief Dave Howe.

In May, 2014, Bend voters approved a local option levy for the Bend Fire Department, Howe said. The purpose of the levy was to implement effective ways to reduce response times, to increase reliability and to increase response efficiency.

“We developed a plan to establish a BLS ambulance system that utilizes appropriately trained ‘ambulance operators’ to respond to and handle less critical medical calls,” Howe explained in a news release

In addition to the AOs, responding in an ambulance, a paramedic responds in a separate vehicle to provide Advanced Life Support (ALS).

“Until today, the paramedic has been riding in the ambulance with the AOs,” Howe said. “During the trial period of about 35 days, we have seen response workloads appropriately balanced and emergency crews with improved availability.”

Thursday was the first day the ambulance operators, after two months of intensive training, were “on their own” in the ambulance, Howe said, with the paramedic accompanying them in a Quick Response Vehicle (QRV).

Howe added, “Bend Fire and Rescue wishes to thank the community for your strong and constant support. We are confident that this new service will be well worth the investment for years to come.”