At first, when I witnessed this Lifestar vehicle in a Salisbury parking lot I was somewhat ticked off because the spaces are not only tight in this parking lot, (across from PRMC) you can see where they didn't properly park in their space. Meaning, unless you had a motorcycle, you were not going to fit into the next space.
As I looked further I noticed their expiration date sticker scratched off their tag. Considering I used to live in New Jersey, I knew that you also have to have a sticker on your front windshield, so I looked. Wouldn't you know it, it too is expired.
So I started doing more research and I came to learn that this company allegedly no longer has an Office in New Jersey. Then I learned not too long ago one of their fleet of ambulances had been pulled over for their dead tags and received a citation. Clearly the company didn't care or respect the law because they are still operating what appears to be illegal non registered vehicles in Maryland.
Now, what you should know is that this company, (Lifestar) holds an EXCLUSIVE contract to transport PRMC patients. You would think that a company as large as PRMC would make sure the service companies they hire are operating legally. Clearly that is not the case.
Check them out for yourself. The next time you see a Lifestar Ambulance, look at their tags. See for yourself that they are not current. Heck, take a picture of each one and send it to us. Let's see just how many of these vehicles are running around Wicomico County.
84 comments:
Another article we won't see first by any other local news source. Thank you Joe for publishing real news.
Where is the state police,
I guess they don't want to pay the sales tax to tag them in Maryland. Hmmmmm I wonder who you would call to let them know they are dodging Maryland taxes?
Vehicles do not need to be tagged in MD to operate/do business in MD, but they must be properly tagged somewhere.
10:05 - well, obviously they are not. PRMC what the hell is your excuse for not knowing about this and checking into it????
10:05 Even if they no longer have the business in New Jersey? What is to stop anyone from registering their vehicle in Delaware to save the taxes? Just open a P.O Box or use a friends address even if you don't live there.
The legal way to do it is to setup a corp/llc in DE and title/tag the vehicle there. Plenty of people buying luxury cars (100k+) do this to save thousands in taxes.
Why would this surprise anyone that's been to PRMC? They don't pay MD state taxes either.....could careless about patient safety.....and always select the cheapest way to do anything regardless of the quality!
You think this is bad? Wait until July 1,2015. Then Salisbury will no longer allow the Salisbury Fire Dept. to service the HOSPITAL for any fire services they need. Any service will have to come from the outside Fire Services from the towns in Wicomico Co. This will ALSO INCLUDE SALISBURY UNIVERSITY.
A business must have a "resident agent" who lives in the state where they are doing business. No RA no legal business practices.
A few months ago a staff member (nurse) from the facility where I work had to accompany a patient being transported by Lifestar to a hospital across the bridge because the patient's condition was so unstable. On the drive up the patient required IV fluids due to a decreasing blood pressure and wouldn't you know it there weren't any IV fluids available because the ambulance had not been restocked properly.
11:26 That is a crime... could cost someone their life. Did they stop to pick up IV fluids ???
Got to wonder if they even have auto insurance on the vehicle/s
Don't they have a manager that takes care of that wonder if they are doing their job or are just slacking off
Lifestar was fraudulently billing Medicare for services to my deceased great-grandfather, too. He had already passed away and they kept sending new bills for new services...that could not have occurred since he was already dead. Disgusting!
The Maryland seal of excellence is up to date. The picture shows that. It is allowed to operate in Maryland. That particular unit is a bls unit. However the tags and expiration is a no no. I wonder why miemms allowed it in the first place. This goes deeper than Prmc. This is the states top medical people as well.
EXPIRED plates, EXPIRED registration = EXPIRED patients at PRMC. I have never gotten any good service from that place. Its a death trap. Mostly for those with free heath insurance who go there for sore throats and simple colds. Those of us who have better do better.
I have a primary here. I have some tests done here. Any major medical care is handled by the drs at John Hopkins. Unfortunately, PRMC and AGH both tried to killed me. First PRMC punctured my lung with a needle. Secondly they did a CAT scan and sent me home with a stroke. The neurologist was furious that they had sent me home. Then AGH should have transferred me from their facility when I got pneumonia so bad. Luckily my family had me flown out of there, but I almost died. Anyway, like I said anything major goes up the road period end of discussion. Just a 3 hour ride away. Best doctors in the world.
When the vehicle was inspected by the state the tags were still good. the unit was inspected back in may or june. At that time the plates were still good since the registration sticker expired in september.
They Dont use stickers in new jersey anymore.
They shouldn't have NJ tags on it at all if they are not doing business there. Tax evader! Seems like PRMC and anyone that deals with them thinks they shouldn't pay any taxes.
Drs up the road way better then here
Why do you think all trailers for big rigs are tagged in Maine? Cheaper taxes and initial cost.
I can't stand private ambulance services anyway. Most of the employees are wannabe paramedics who can't get a real paramedic job. So sad.
I think the County should charge a fee for operating a commercial ambulance service in Wicomico County since they are taking business from the volunteers.
Oh I guess maybe ask jim perdue about that.....
All lifestar does is transport people from thr hospital to mostly nursing homes and doc appointments. How is taking business from volunteers
Then why haven't new stickers been put on the ambulance? They are not above the law. I'm sure if one of the ambulance drivers got pulled over and got a fine for it they would let the driver fend for himself with some bs excuse about should have checked over your unit. It seems to me that a office should have some sort of manager to deal with this issue. Looks like an office manager needs to be fired for not doing their job and risking someone's driving record with a fine or points. Joe is there anyway to tell who the office manager for them is so they may be held accountable
You Jack arse they are not taking business from them they are saving your vollie pansies from running bs calls at night. Back years ago your paramedics were bitching up a fit about having to run vs nursing home calls because you all were not getting your beauty sleep. So the SOP for if private or 911 was created but we can scrap that and let your 911 service take that pt from gesisucks to Baltimore at 3 in the morning taking a unit out of service for roughly 4-6 hours is real smart. Your moron brand is on its wsy.
Since they are potentially operating illegally may e some one should report them to the governing body of EMS in MD. Contact the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) then ask for the Commercial Licensing division. I would want my family transported by a company that cannot conduct business properly.
Yesterday at 3:23 P.M. A life star transport van ## 717 with Pa. Tags drove very fast changing lanes and speeding on rt.50 from Phillip Morris Dr. Until he turned at Arby's by WiHi.
He almost collided with me.
Or maybe they're working at a job that's flexible enough to go to school while being able to pay the bills. And the majority of people doing private ambulance are volunteers. We volunteers don't bill in my county. Besides, we would rather a different service take those who are non-emergency to leave 911 available for true emergencies.
We have all worked menial jobs to make ends meet.
U have no clue of what your talking about. Wanna be paramedics really? They went to school they got a degree. Maybe the next time u need someone to save ur life it very well could be 1 of those paramedics which also work for firehouses. Get ur facts straight u ignorant ass.
This is the most idiotic comment on the thread. Most of the "wannabe" paramedics that work commercial ambulance services are the very VOLUNTEERS that show up at your house in the middle of the night to take you to the ER. It is then that they are not getting paid to do their job. Volunteer ambulances DO NOT operate in a commercial capacity performing inter facility transports and such.
Therefore, the commercial companies are not taking "business" from the volunteers. As far as them getting a "real paramedic job" as you say, with the exception of a tiny handful of agencies on the shore, mostly every EMT, Paramedic, and yes Fire fighter is a non paid volunteer. Putting their lives on the line to save you and or your property for FREE!! I would encourage you to please research a subject first before posting out of ignorance of the subject matter. Have a good night.
Reading all these opinions of the keyboard lawyers is absolutely beyond entertaining. There isn't but a handful of people that even have a clue as to what they are talking about. All you legal professionals posting your interpretation as a legal opinion are so far in left field you'll fall off the edge of the earth.
That is the problem with this world, everyone knows everything about anything and is willing to argue to prove that, even without any evidence. It is know wonder we are in the sick state of Country that we are. Get a clue or keep your moths shut. If you only pass judgement on things you know about it will be a quite world.
Did you complain then ? No . just like all you shore billies you complain here. That's only a start. Quit complaining on the computer and make something happen. Get up and move. Speak. Be heard.
They also exclusively transport Johns Hopkins patients. Hmmmmm
8:26
Well if you are so smart why don't you tells us how it really is? Maybe you should get a clue and shut your mouth. Your ONLY reason to comment was so you could thump your chest to make your pathetic life seem more important. You failed. Now go back to playing your video games.
I don't think the blame can be put on PRMC. Lifestar is contracted out, not a part of the hospital. If you order something from Lowe's, you don't check their tags and registration on the delivery vehicle. PRMC bids out these contracts.
A good amount of these commercial providers are not skilled enough for 911 and most definitely in it for the money, but not all of them. Unfortunately Commercial Ambulance is more about the money than patient care. Lifestar was decent when locally owned, but now its part of a chain company and going dowhill.
Rick Collins
Of course they have an office manager. Trying to get her to do her job is another thing.
So Roni Lane are you going to do something about this or just sweep it under the rug and let the ambulance run illegally in Maryland?
9:30
I guess if you buy milk from the store and it is out of date it is not the stores fault either right?
In it for the money? You're joking right?If they were in it for the money they would be working for SFD and sleeping all night.
You need to contact Miemms. They are the regulatory agency for ambulance licensing in Maryland. The COMAR regulations state the vehicle has to be registered in Maryland to receive approval to operate in this state
All these comments are super funny. I am a former/sometimes employee of Lifestar. I have worked out of their Baltimore office and their Salisbury office since 2009. All of you talk about a the company and you don't know anything about it. You all are talking about EMTs and you have never worked for the company or the profession. I am glad I have seen this because I want to inform you all.
Lifestar in Salisbury is managed locally by a complete office of managers, dispatchers, EMTs and Paramedics. That office is also apart of Lifestar Midatlantic which is apart of a larger corporation known as Falck Corp. Falck is a European company that manages commercial ambulance companies all over the world. The company is worth BILLIONS of Dollars. At night, Salisbury crews are dispatched by the Baltimore office and Lifestar MidAtlantic has offices in Baltimore, Hyattsville, Midfield, Rockville, Pennsylvania and New York. THAT WAS THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
Working for the company can be a nightmare or a God-send, depending on which class of employee you ask. Management will tell you that the company they operate is in good shape and a solid citizen of the business community and that they love and care about their employees and their patients. If ANYONE ever bothered to ask the employees... the actual foot soldiers in the company whether it was a good company, dispatchers and call takers may love it, but road personnel will hands down tell you they hate it. They are often taken for granted and not provided with a wage that they can honestly live on. And EVERYONE OF THEM IS OVERWORKED!!!!
In Salisbury, they deserve a bit of a reprieve because they just joined the Baltimore company in 2010/2011. They have to use older equipment from the Baltimore office and have no say in what they get. Before they became a apart of the larger corporation, they were a Mom/Pop with free reign to get things done, but they didn't have the contract with PRMC. Now that they are apart of the bigger company, they get more contracts but they are the only game in town on the Shore, so they pretty much can do what they want.
Back to what I was saying, Lifestar Midatlantic is a large company with more than 800 employees and occasionally, things fall through the cracks, mostly, they break the law because they are the largest private duty company in Maryland. They are 100% registered with the State of Maryland and with MEIMSS. When inspection time comes around, the company polishes every ambulance off with everything they have and present fully stocked ambulances to be verified by the licensing organization. EVERY YEAR!! Same time in June of every year. The ambulances are fully registered with the DMV and are in working order.
When it comes to your rides from the Shore to JHH, if your ambulance didn't have the IV solution needed for the trip, that is a big NO NO and you should have taken down their name and the ambulance number and report them to MEIMSS or called their office in Baltimore or Salisbury. Having worked out of that office, this appears to be an anomaly because those employees are almost always onto of their game.
Now.. about the profession. EMTs are rockstars of the EMS profession because they do all of the work and get none of the glory. Paramedics are smart but mostly lazy by nature. The get the check, but often forget to restock their equipment. Which is why they heavily rely on their EMT to ensure that they have what they need. If they have a new person, they often have mistakes on their shift. Working as an EMT was one of the best jobs I could have ever had. It was an honor and I look forward to returning to the profession.
Basically, Lifestar is a crap chute. The company is allowed to use vehicles registered in different states as long as the company has an office in that state and Lifestar has an office in NJ, they just have no employees in the NJ office. And if NJ stopped using stickers, then doesn't that mean that the registered ambos from that state don't need updated stickers.
You are absolutely correct! "Real" paramedics are the only ones who get to use their lights and sirens. "Real" paramedics get to push drugs and incubate, not us "wannabes." "Real" paramedics are the only ones who see cool blood, guts, and gore. "Wannabe" paramedics are the only ones who have to deal with nursing homes...
All you guys are funny. Lifestar EMTs take the same courses and tests as 911 providers. Yes, they work and are in it for the money, but don't you get paid for your job???? Think about it!
Also, call they can operate in MD with NJ plates as long as they have an office in NJ.
Leslie.. still the funniest of everyone at Lifestar... Hope you, Ed and the kiddies are still rocking out and making it work!!!!
I'm not defending Lifestar at all because I've dealt with one of their ignorant employees before. However, to my understanding some companies don't always place the stickers on the units if they have had sticker thefts (yes, people will steal anything) so they keep the current stickers in a binder at the office. I'm not saying they are doing this, just throwing it out there.
That's the problem they no longer have a office in NJ it was shut down a year ago and they haven't switched the tags their office is in Salisbury, Baltimore and Delaware none in Jersey
Wow....so many legal analysts out there.... I guess everyone with their perfect little lives, having never made a mistake in their own lives, have never erred.
All providers in the state, regardless of where they work or volunteer, go through the same state mandated programs, taught by state approved instructors, and certified by the same state licensing organization. So the career/volunteer vs private debate is pointless.
Second, if the state had a problem with the registration of the ambulances, they would never have been certified.
Third, really a blog to get your news? That's like watching Fox news and believing Obama is doing a great job.
Sure, call in, let the management know there is a problem, and it will be taken care of. Expired reg is not a safety concern, but it is a serious concern, and those trucks are to have been taken out of service and addressed. It's not the end of the world, people....lighten up. Until then, I'm sure that everyone will pitch in, staff their volunteer rigs, and help out with the transfers, discharges, and the ever popular nursing home pick up to take granny to the ER at 3 in the morning, for abnormal lab values from 2 days ago....
So....stay classy Lower Shore, we're all counting on you....
Lifestar is the "McDonalds" of ambulance service. How's that Obamacare working for you?
Roni is the most worthless POS at that company. You ask anyone who has worked there. She takes on a task and screws it up and either shanda or Amy have to fix her f@#! Ups. She breaks her arm patting her self on the back for being an Emt ( just a card holder not a true provider) yet hasn't been in the back of a unit in over 10 YEARS!
A "crap chute"
Haha
Their drivers are the WORST. There was one on East Carroll St, in the right turn only lane (to turn north on Rt 13), and when the light changed they went straight across 13, onto the other side of East Carroll St instead, essentially cutting the car off in front of me, who was in the straight lane (correct lane to go straight across 13) and once across 13 had wanted to merge over to turn into the M & T Bank. The driver in front of me honked at them, and the Lifestar driver flipped her off and laughed and slowed down to keep her from being able to turn in the entrance where she wanted to. It almost caused an accident! They are rude and obnoxious.
Well said thank you
NJ no longer puts expiration dates on the tags. The window sticker is for an inspection. Technically speaking, if that vehicle hasn't been back to NJ since September, it would be legal to not have it inspected yet, since it is a state inspection separate from the registration. You would have to see the vehicle registration card to verify the registration is not current, you can't simply look at the vehicle and tell...
Wow, I was almost too lazy to read through all of the comments. Good thing there BLS to scroll the page down for me.
This all started because someone is grumpy they couldn't park right next to the entrance door of the hospital. On the other hand, being an employee there they do have their units inspected routinely. Stickers aren't required on the unit as long as the supervisor can provide proof. Plus for those who think their insurances are out of date are again WRONG.
lifestar was baught by falck a few months ago they closed an office in NJ because falck determined that the poor handling of that office made it unsalvagable. they added the fleet to its baltimore office after getting the MD sticker to operate. the company has insurance for all of its drivers and vehicles, if it did lapse then it would be reported by the insurance company to the MVA and lifestar would be forced to close its doors until they have a new insurance agreement.
They obviously passed miemss inspection through Maryland to operate as a transport, miemms does not over look anything, they are tough inspections to pass and if you don't think so ask any ems personnel as myself that has ever been involved with the inspection and no I do not work for lifestar, just saying
Are you serious... They pick three or four units out of the whole fleet and look over those that's it . 911 service gets all of their units checked because they only really have 2-4 units per house. But when a business has upwards of20-30 units it's near impossible to do that plus if you read above those Jersey units came into play AFTER the June inspection.
And some of us "wannabe" Paramedics have been Paramedics longer than most real wannabes have been alive, and are now retired and working a second job.
Maybe you meant a "crap shoot", like shooting craps, bad luck. Then again, maybe they really are a "crap chute".
They wouldn't be relaxed say company owned them and even in de you still pay the tax in your state
I used to work for Lifestar in pa. They always tried to do things illegal. I wouldn't trust my dog with this company
Even if you own a business in Delaware unless you have proof of residence there they will not issue tags,just went through this last week.
10:51,no more,unless you have proof of residence they will not issue tags,I guess they don't want our money anymore.
It's legal and done all the time. Look at all the trailers bearing Maine tags
Leslie.......incubate? Really? It's "intubate" honey. Your making your fellow medics, emt's look bad. The ones with whom I'm familiar are very good at what they do. And volunteers or paid matters not when your ass is gasping for breath at 3:00 am and your calling for help.
That's because there is no accountability. Joe and I have talked about this several times.
i luv obamacare, my $4000 deductable b grate
First, it's MIEMSS. After you screwed that up, nobody should listen to you. Second, COMAR does not say that. COMAR regulations only state the vehicle has to be licensed to operate with picking up patients in the state, not dropping off- licensed as in inspected by the Commercial Licensing Division of MIEMSS. COMAR says absolutely nothing about their vehicle registration. Now shut up, moron.
Joe...do you think Walmart micro-manages ever single vendor relationship? I don't understand why you would expect PRMC to do so. Honestly, I feel like that's contrary to the entire notion of capitalism.
Manager Jeff Hutchins has spoken
Did y'all know they have the Baltimore Raven's contract?
LE, listen up. This may be a brand new revenue stream.
Those trailers are tagged in Maine but their registration is current, not expired.
I live in NJ and worked for Lifestar for a very short time. So some details NJ scrapped the registration sticker on the plates years ago, so the lack of one is not an issue. The inspection sticker.. NJ uses a two year DMV inspection cycle and its not always linked to the registration date, the registration / plates renewal is yearly can can be done online. My guess is the registration is valid and they figured out that an expired NJ inspection sticker is not a crime in Maryland so it's not worth it to drive up to NJ just to get an inspection sticker (for what it's worth NJ only does emissions inspection not safety)
The only thing i would consider a possible issue with this is if whoever runs Maryland ambulance services requres a valid inspection or MD DMV registration
They have an office just no field staff
NJ doesn't use registration stickers
I dont think MD LE can cite and expired NJ inspection
Are you serious?! You are a moron. I have personally spent 15+ hrs the day before inspection to make sure the units are ready. I have also spent countless hours the day of inspection being a gopher during inspections. To say they check 4 of 30 and slap stickers on the rest is idiotic. If that is the case then a hand full wouldn't end up failing for some small overlooked issue. But please feel free to contact MIEMSS and let them know how disappointed you are with their relaxed inspection policies. Just make sure you record it to later post so we can all have a good laugh at your expense!
What about the investigations regarding Medicare/Medicaid fraud? It certainly has been a topic lately, validated by a number of reputable sources. Yet, it seems few prior employees are willing to tell what has gone on with Lifestar's billing practices.
If a current or prior employee has direct knowledge of this, there is a sizable reward being offered.
If anyone is honest enough to stand up and do the right thing the contact information will be provided in confidence.
Reward huh? A lot of employees (150 emts or so) in PA were really pissed off to get laid off by email. What about employees whom didn't deal with billing however witnessed these fraud cases.
If you witnessed something; preferably with access to documentation please contact:
Brian Mahany @. http://www.mahanyertl.com
No, this is not an ad. I am not associated with the firm.
Contact
http://www.mahanyertl.com
Please have clear, concise and valid information. Preferably documentation would be nice.
This is not an advertisement. It is a referral.
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