Referendum to decide if U. should fund EMS program

and DANIEL GINGISS The University of Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Service -- a student-run organization staffed with Emergency Medical Technicians and trainees -- is asking for student support in its quest for University funding and sponsorship. And today and tomorrow, students will have the chance to voice that support. A referendum, which will decide if UPEMS should receive funding, will appear on the Undergraduate Assembly's ballot, Chairperson of Elections for the Nominations and Elections Committee Jim Strangio said. If UPEMS is established officially at the University, it will aim to provide a quicker ambulance response service than is already provided by the city of Philadelphia. "We think that this is a program that will greatly enhance the pre-hospital care and response services in the University and for the University community," said UPEMS Chief and second-year Medical student Todd Fruchterman. He added that the ambulance service would be used to transport victims to Student Health Services or the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, in the event of minor or serious injuries. According to the UA ballot, if the referendum is passed, "it would indicate that the undergraduate community feels that the University should provide funding and/or fundraising for UPEMS? [but] would not require the University to provide funding." While most University officials have lent their support to the program, at least one was critical of the program. One of the program's main supporters is University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich, who helped students start a similar program at Brown University. "I support the concept of a volunteer, student-based EMS operation," Kuprevich said. "We in the campus police department [are] willing to be a central dispatch and record-keeping entity for them, in coordination with the delivery of emergency services." Kuprevich added that University Police officers -- some of whom are also EMT's -- would be willing to assist UPEMS members in the event of an emergency. But Sarah Stahmer, director of clinical operations in the Emergency Department at HUP, said she has many concerns about the program, among them that it has "a lot of kinks." "No one in the medical field has taken it on and fully voiced support," she said. "I think it might potentially compromise patient care." Stahmer added that the program "could be a potential mess with undergraduates caring for patients," especially from a liability standpoint if an undergraduate were to be sued. But Rich Herschberger, flight paramedic for PennSTAR, said the potential speed of UPEMS could only be beneficial for the University. "I think anytime you can put emergency services in your backyard, it's going to be the most rapid response," he said. Herschberger added that since the program teaches students "the backbone skills of medicine," the participants also stand to gain from their acquired knowledge. Kuprevich said that "the funding issue has been a major concern" for UPEMS, which currently does not receive money from the University. Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said the group is looking for "a large sum of money," in the range of $300,000. But, Moneta said, "it's hard to put a price tag on the increased support that the program would provide." Another question critics have raised is whether the University needs a program like UPEMS. Stahmer said Philadelphia EMS does everything UPEMS plans to do. "Why create a new system when the old system really works?" Stahmer said. "We have an emergency response system -- they would have to interface with Philadelphia EMS and that is an enormous amount of responsibility." Members of UPEMS say, however, that the city's emergency response system takes up to 30 minutes to respond in many cases. "[They] want to volunteer time and work with city rescue units as well," Kuprevich said. "If this does take effect and it becomes a reality, it would be a positive interaction with them, not to replace them." UPEMS Captain Jonathan Slotkin, a College sophomore, said the program helps the EMT's as much as it helps the other students. "For an undergraduate, it's great experience to learn how to deal with people and learn about medical situations and learn to feel compassion for those in need," he said. "There's no way you can teach that in a classroom." Slotkin added that the passage of the referendum would "enhance our standing as a group." Several student government leaders said the referendum will have significant effect on the University's ultimate decision. "I hope everyone takes it seriously," said NEC Chairperson Sharon Dunn, a Wharton senior. "It'll mean something if the undergraduates stand behind it."