Santa Clara Threatens Ambulance Termination

Santa Clara County officials are threatening to terminate the contract of an ambulance company that they say has repeatedly responded too slowly to emergencies.
 
County Executive Jeff Smith says Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Rural Metro has been put on notice about possible termination.
 
A company official tells the San Jose Mercury News it failed to meet required response times of less than 12 minutes only a few times in October and December. Spokesman Michael Simonsen says Rural Metro has since submitted a system enhancement plan and doesn't plan to ever be out of compliance again.
 
Smith says no patients were put at risk, but weaknesses in the system could have been exacerbated by a disaster.
 
Rural Metro has paid more than $4.7 million in fines for alleged violations, including failing to have three ambulances ready to deploy.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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