SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego’s new ambulance provider Falck could face more than $450,000 in penalties, according to a new document from San Diego Fire-Rescue.
The information was released by San Diego Fire-Rescue ahead of the Public Safety & Liveable Neighborhoods Committee meeting Wednesday.
The update — which will be presented publicly during the committee meeting — shows that the fines are connected to Falck’s failure to meet required response times from December to March.
The total penalty assessed was in excess of more than $2.3 million, but about $1.9 million was waived because of the pandemic.
"Falck has been staffing below contracted requirements. Falck stated they would be ready on day one and fully staffed," said Deputy Chief of EMS Jodie Pierce during March's committee meeting.
The new report also shows Falck is still below the 900 monthly median paramedic hours required. In April, it was at 828 hours. As of May 14th, that number was at 767.
When it comes to the community where Falck paramedic-staffed ambulances were shut down most often in March and April, Encanto ranks the highest at 38 percent.
A Falck spokesperson told Team 10 they have made strides in their response times after the coronavirus surge earlier this year.
"Beginning in February, as the Omicron surge subsided, Falck has steadily improved its performance in San Diego and has been fully compliant with response-time requirements throughout April and May, in all zones and for all priorities," said Falck spokesperson Jeff Lucia.
A San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesperson said they did not want to comment publicly before Wednesday's committee meeting.
"Cities across the U.S. are facing EMS staffing challenges amid the national paramedic shortage, and San Diego is no exception. We are continuing vigorous recruiting efforts and adding to our staff, and we are paying double-time plus $250 shift bonus for personnel to work extra shifts as we work to meet our overall staffing hours in the City of San Diego," Lucia wrote to Team 10.
Lucia said they are "going all-out" in recruiting new personnel.
"We are continuing vigorous recruiting efforts and adding to our staff, and we are paying double-time plus $250 shift bonus for personnel to work extra shifts as we work to meet our overall staffing hours in the City of San Diego," he said.
Lucia confirmed they have delivered on the all new fleet of 66 ambulances promised to the City of San Diego, with the last units being outfitted with equipment to go into service.
The committee meeting is Wednesday morning.
