The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "emergency services" ...
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Hidden suffering, hidden death
The deaths of severely disabled Illinois residents who lived at home cared for by friends and relatives were not being investigated by the state agency specially created to protect them — the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Human Services. The reason given for not investigating?The agency's internal documents showed that that OIG considered the dead to be "ineligible for services," even when victims died shortly after being hospitalized on an emergency basis and after the agency had received calls on its hotline alleging that the disabled person had been abused or neglected. The Belleville News-Democrat's wide-ranging investigation initially focused on the deaths of 53 of these home bound disabled adults.
Tags: Department of Human Service; Office of the Inspector General; OIGl; victims
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Start Freakin'
In Seattle, "Stop Freakin', call Beacon" is the catch-phrase that propelled Beacon Plumbing into an instantly recognizable brand and the region's largest emergency plumbing service. We found the company doing unlicensed plumbing work, shoddy repairs, and overcharging customers. Ensuing investigations revealed that the man in the Beacon uniform might not be a plumber at all and that his former dress code may have included pinstripes at the State lock-up.
Tags: fraud; consumer investigation; professional license; advertising;
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Carilion Concerns
The Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital is under investigation by several agencies for how the quality of care to patients. A suicide in the emergency department raised questions about the acre, and it was determined that the hospital is not in full compliance with Medicare regulations.
Tags: Health and Human Services; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid; health care; Federal Trade Commission;
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EMS Taxi: Health Care Dysfunction on Wheels
An analysis of the public records database found that Cleveland residents were calling 911 to be picked up by Emergency Medical Service ambulances for minor ailments. This is because dispatchers can't say no. The result is that response times are slow and the transportation is a high cost for the city.
Tags: transportation; emergency medical services; Medicaid; Medicare; Metrohealth Medical Center; Cleveland; ambulance; 911; database; health; medicine;
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911 Emergency
The investigation found that "rigid adherence to the Medical Priority Dispatch System" lead to delays in help being sent to the caller because they weren't calm enough to answer all the questions on the check list.
Tags: emergency; transportation; emergency response; health; medical service; ambulance; 911
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Air Ambulances
A Fort Worth physician who was a medical director for several local EMS units was also employed by a "for-profit air ambulance service." Under his direction the EMS units began using his company's helicopters, even when they weren't the closest ones to the scene.
Tags: medical; emergency; EMS; helicopters; air ambulance; politicians; patients; injuries;
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Troubled Rescuers
A number of Californian paramedics were found to be turning to drugs and alcohol because they were over stressed. This lead them to endanger patients and commit crimes. Even after being caught, overview was lax. Paramedics were also found to bye "cheating and committing fraud in obtaining and renewing their state licenses.
Tags: paramedic; health; emergency medical technician; State Fire Marshal; Emergency Medical Services Authority; California; drug abuse; alcohol
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Our Tax Dollars at Work
A look at how the tax money in Kansas City is spent on street maintenance, police, fire/ambulance, water, sewer, parks and recreation, municipal courts, and solid waste removal.
Tags: Utilities; tax money; city spending; taxes; streets; emergency services; municipal courts; garbage pickup; solid waste removal
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Failed 9-1-1
A 19 year old Hillsborough County youth died from an asthma attack because an enhanced 9-1-1 system, required by law and paid for by customers, was not in place. The authors also found that the fire rescue back-up systems were not in place.
Tags: emergency services; Hillsborough County; public safety; enhanced 9-1-1 system
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Delaware's Deadly Prisons
This four day series examined the health care for more than 6,000 inmates at Delaware's prisons. Documents and interviews showed that inmates did not receive routine or emergency care from state-contracted medical providers for ailments from cancer to AIDS. In several cases inmates died. The state did not oversee the contractors, and employees of the contractors said they were told that cost is more important than care.
Tags: prison; terminal disease; inmate care; AIDS; cancer; Department of Justice; Department of Corrections; FOIA; Department of Health and Human Services; private contractors; privatization; jail; incarceration