1962-03-27 Special CC MinutesSPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA
HELD TUESDAY EVENING MARCH 27 1962
The meeting convened at 7:15 o'clock p.m. with President Collischonn presiding.
ROLL CALL:
The roll was called and Councilmen McCall, Rose, Schacht and President Collischonn, (4), were
noted present. Absent: Councilman Godfrey, (1).
NEW BUSINESS:
The Call and Notice of the Special Meeting was on file and receipt thereof had been acknowledged
by the Councilmen. The purpose of said meeting was for further discussion of the future status of
the First Aid Station with Dr. James F. Brady, City Physician, who is in charge of said facility.
Upon request, Dr. Brady expressed his views on the subject - pointing up the following facts; The
"Station" is operated for first aid only and is not for definitive care following such emergencies;
it is a distribution center from which patients are sent to the proper hospital or to their private
physicians, if necessary, after first aid has been given; over ninety per cent of the cost of
operating the Station is for salaries.
A lengthy and detailed question and answer period was had with regard to the present operation of
the Station, with reference being made to the data contained in several reports which had been com-
piled and furnished the Councilmen for their information concerning the number and types of cases
and the disposition thereof.
The suggestion was made that there should be some charge made by a schedule of fees for the services
and, also, that the Police ambulance service be eliminated and the City contract with a private
ambulance company for its service.
With regard to the. setting of fees, Dr. Brady felt the City would have great difficulty in collect-
ing, and the paper work. involved would negate its purpose. With regard to "industrial" cases, he
felt, however, the City could bill and be able to collect. He agreed, too, that if there were a
professional ambulance service available in Alameda, it could render an excellent service.
Dr. Brady stated the citizens of Alameda.receive better emergency coverage than in other cities,
but the service is limited by the fact that there is no resident staff. He. pointed out no City can
maintain a residency staff simply to provide complete emergency service. Dr. Brady agreed that if
the Station were closed, the people would still receive adequate care elsewhere, but it would be ..
clumsy.
Mr. Weller emphasized that the City is providing a service which is exceedingly uncommon and is not
ordinarily being provided in other cities. He pointed up the fact that the principal cost of operat-
ing the Station is "fixed" - the salaries - and the number of cases handled is immaterial in this
respect.
Inquiry was made about the thinking of the local doctors on the question of whether or not to close
the Station and Dr. Brady replied that he had talked with a number of these doctors and they were
approximately equally divided on the issue.
When pressed for a recommendation on this matter, Dr. Brady stated he believed that if a change was
to be made, the result should give at least as much service to the people as is presently being
given. If not, then no change should be made.
The opinion was expressed that the people are not getting the service they believe they are paying
for.
Following some further discussion, the President stated he felt the Councilmen want to cogitate on
the many points brought out at this meeting and, therefore, no action would be taken at this time.
President Collischonn expressed the thanks and appreciation of the Council to Dr. Brady for giving
his time in meeting with the Council and for his informative and unbiased account of the operation
of the First Aid Station.
ADJOURNMENT:
2. There being no further business to come before the meeting, the Council adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Ci ty' Clerk