For years Marion County Fire Rescue paramedics complained about having to wait — often for hours — at hospitals before they could hand over their patients and get back in service. The wait, often called "wall time," was necessary because they had to monitor their patients until the hospital staff could take over. While the personnel waited, their territory had to be covered by other ambulance stations.
The wall time, euphemistically meant to describe paramedics leaning against the wall waiting for a nurse or doctor, was becoming so prevalent that county government prepared a preliminary ordinance that would allow the county to charge the hospitals for tying up its ambulance crews. But it might not come to that. During a workshop this week, Marion County Fire Rescue Chief Paul Nevels reported that wall time — at least the longest stretches — are dropping now that the hospitals have implemented a variety of programs.
After hearing that, the County Commission held off on the ordinance, but warned it could change its mind if improvement didn't continue.