AMBULANCE PROVIDER CRITICIZED

Oakland chief knocks Falck response times; leadership questioned

Falck USA, the company set to become San Diego’s new ambulance provider next month, is facing criticism for poor response times in Northern California and questions about recent changes in the company’s leadership team.

The Oakland fire chief says Falck has not been providing reliable service to his community. He requested last week an investigation into the company’s failure to meet response times required in its contract with Alameda County.

Falck also is facing criticism over the abrupt departure of the company’s chief executive a few days after Falck landed the San Diego ambulance contract last spring.

Some critics also are questioning the qualifications of the man Falck officials recently hired to lead the company’s San Diego operations. The emergency system where he previously worked ceased operations under his leadership.

The new questions and criticisms come two weeks after San Diego Fire Chief Colin Stowell raised concerns that Falck is struggling to hire paramedics and to secure new ambulances in advance of taking over city emergency operations on Nov. 27.

The takeover will come after a six-month transition period the

City Council approved when it chose Falck over American Medical Response as San Diego’s ambulance provider, based on promises of better service and response times.

Stowell said this week that the vocal complaints about Falck by officials in Northern California are obviously a concern. But he said the response time problems there appear to be mostly outside of Falck’s control.

Falck officials agreed, contending the response time delays are the