UPDATE: Ambulance Service in Portsmouth Shuts Down, Future Unclear
UPDATE: Ambulance Service in Portsmouth Shuts Down, Future Unclear Save Email Print
Posted: 11:07 AM Jan 9, 2009
 Last Updated: 8:14 PM Jan 9, 2009
 Reporter: Randy Yohe
Email Address: randy.yohe@wsaz.com
86 comments
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PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) -- More than 100 stunned Portsmouth ambulance workers said they lost their jobs when the company unexpectedly shut down Thursday night.

The shutdown resulted from a failed buyout, and there's a concern that several communities will not have adequate emergency service.

Neighboring Greenup County, Ky., officials have issued emergency orders to keep ambulances running. Meanwhile, former employees said the struggling company -- maybe two companies -- illegally left them without severance, paychecks, or a real reason why.

"We were told we were MTS employees and had job security," said Michael Vermillion who's an emergency medical technician.

MTS CEO Chuck Williams said his company only went into a caretaking agreement with Portsmouth Ambulance, pending a purchase of assets. The sale and contracted partnership, however, both fell through this week.

"Due to liability issues, we had to step out of the management agreement and cease employee services and equipment," Williams said.

Kim Craft, an EMT, said, "There are 100 runs a day that aren't being covered."

The Greenup 911 director said an emergency order has Life Ambulance now covering the area. MTS officials said they can and are covering the Greenup County region.

As to why the Portsmouth Ambulance and MTS deal fell through, Craft said, "tax liens and non-payments."

Vermillion said, "If one company was doing books for the other, that's shady bookkeeping."

MTS said it immediately started hiring the out-of-work Portsmouth employees and will continue to do so. Workers disagreed, however, saying it was a selected few -- not the majority.

Our investigation at the Scioto County Clerk of Courts revealed that Portsmouth Ambulance owes more than $200,000 in court judgments and has recently paid out more than $250,000 in workers compensation and individual judgments.

Dr. Tim Wheeler and Kenny Boggs, the president and vice president, respectively, of the Portsmouth Ambulance Board did not return our repeated calls for comment.

Original story
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) -- People in Portsmouth may have to wait a few extra minutes for an ambulance after a sudden shutdown of service Thursday evening.

The MTS ambulance company thought it had a deal worked out to buy Portsmouth Ambulance Incorporated, but the deal fell through this week.

Portsmouth Ambulance was taken over by local investors in 2006, and one of those investors told WSAZ.com it's been a losing venture.

For now, the company is trying to pay nearly 100 employees and maintain its fleet of 52 vehicles.

Meanwhile, the other company, MTS, plans to set up shop in town with or without Portsmouth Ambulance Incorporated.

WSAZ's Randy Yohe is in Portsmouth today looking into this story. will have more information on this story later tonight. on news channel three at six.

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Posted by: PA EMPLOYEE on Jan 23, 2009 at 10:47 AM
anonymous-----first of all you dont understand the business world. This contract is not for us as employees to see. Are you crazy? I understand that MTS was under a contract to mange PAS untill the deal went thr. I also understand that according to the contract pals was to pay us. They were suppose to be giving mts our pay and mts would inturn pay us. UNDERSTAND THIS our own people kept our pay from us. There have been many times I could not cash my pay check. Mts tried to help and i thank them for that.
Posted by: realemt on Jan 20, 2009 at 10:55 AM
anyone that wants job security, and dosnt wanna work for LIFE's tyrant, should work at ABLE. mark my words, they are for real. they have all the right pieces in place now and they are gonna slowly but surely take over. all the same bad rumors ive heard the last couple years about ABLE sound pretty stupid now. btw, I DO NOT WORK AT ABLE. this is a totally outside opinion. believe it or not. LIFE will not get by with the stuff they've done. everyone pays the piper at some point
Posted by: anonymous on Jan 19, 2009 at 11:38 PM
to Lawyer. If that is a fact why not make the so called contract public to the employees instead of hiding behind paper. Even if you are right it seems shady their paychecks were not coming from pas they were coming from MTS and MTS had claimed to be the ones paying them for months as we were told that PAS had not been paying their payroll since Oct. This is all stupid and I am so proud of the employees who chose to go back to PAS. This is a better company than MTS in the public view. For most of you ,you are in this to help people and private EMS gets a bad rap. As for responsibility of pay, MTS claimed they were doing it as if it were a big favor to you. According to IRS, MTS owes you a W2. Hang in there PAS. what goes around comes around.
Posted by: Dear PAS GOES TO COURT on Jan 19, 2009 at 09:06 PM
If you really knew anything you would know that $95,000.00 is not much to an ambulance company....and that is not going to keep pa down..haha
Posted by: LAWYER on Jan 19, 2009 at 01:02 PM
TO ANONYMOUS ON JAN 18. I HAVE WENT OVER THE CONTRACT THAT PAS INVESTORS AGREED TO. IT STATS THAT PAS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL PAY TO PAS EMPLOYEES. SO YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKIN ABOUT BEFORE MAKING STATEMENTS.
Posted by: anonymous on Jan 18, 2009 at 08:32 PM
to Lawyer on Jan 16, Maybe you should read those contracts again and contact the labor board as PAS employees have been told MTS is in fact responsible for the pay with interest. MTS made the money for the runs and it PAS that did it for them. Pay up and give the families the pay they deserve and maybe these privatized ambulance companies may stop getting a bad rep. Good to hear you are back in business PAS. We wish you guys the best.
Posted by: realemt on Jan 16, 2009 at 11:45 PM
are you trying to say LIFE is a real job. their wannabes. some might say "posers". and its a ridiculous thing your trying to do over there
Posted by: LAWYER on Jan 16, 2009 at 12:26 AM
TO ANONYMOUS JAN 15 AT 9:58. MTS IS NOT LEGALY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PAY OF PAS EMPLOYEES PERTAINING TO THE CONTRACT THEY HAD WITH PAS INVESTORS. SO MY ADVISE FOR YOU IS THAT PAS CURRENT EMPLOYEES NEED TO CONTACT THEM FOR YOUR PAY. THIS IS A VERY BAD THING THAT HAS HAPPENED BUT IT IS IN WRITTING.
Posted by: anonymous on Jan 15, 2009 at 09:58 PM
FYI Mts is responsible for the pay pa employees have not received and it is high time they were given what they already worked for. It it wasn't for these employees who stayed and worked essentially for free where would you be as a community needing ems services?
Posted by: Over MTS and PAS on Jan 14, 2009 at 04:21 PM
i read this article and have read the comments... i guess that's my fault for wasting so much time on this thread but in my opinion... as an EMS professional for a local 911 service... it is sad what has happened to the employees at PAS. without going into detail, neither MTS nor PAS has much noted respect among their outside peers- mainly because of the way you all are portraying yourself right now... professionalism for any service is a top priority and for you all to sit and libel each other on a public forum is childish. it's always going to be a bitter war of 'i work for the better company' between private ambulance services. if you have a problem with one service- DONT WORK THERE. if you have a problem with another services employees- take it straight to them face to face and quit degrading employees on this dang forum. once you learn this first act of professionalism- and become well groomed- come see one of the 911 services for a job with benefits. good luck PAS.
Posted by: Misty on Jan 14, 2009 at 07:13 AM
well "realemt"...that is something from someone who needs a real job would say. If we are doin nothing but makin a quick buck (which LIFE Ambulance doesnt need any help from PAS for that) why did the dispatchers call and ask for additional help to get their dialysis patients on time this morning?...again, what we did is called patient care not making a quick buck...maybe you should look up what Patient Care actually means?...at least I am not afraid to speak up and use MY REAL NAME Mr "realemt". We (unlike PAS) dont show any discrimination against anyone who calls for an ambulance...How many times did I hear down there .."dont haul them, they are too big, no insurance, blah blah blah...There is no "brainwashing" to it and again let me emphasize..LIFE Ambulance isnt hurting for money and our dialysis patients actually have a ride this morning!...
Posted by: PAS EMPLOYEE on Jan 14, 2009 at 02:18 AM
WELL PAS MANAGEMENT ONLY AGREED TO PAY US HALF OF WHAT WE ARE OWED. THERE WERE SEVERAL OF PAS EMPLOYEES WALKED OFF THE JOB ON HTE 12th. I KNOW NOW THAT IT IS PAS THAT IS TO PAY US FOR ALL THE HOURS WE HAVE WORKED AND NOT YET HAVE GOT PAID FOR. IT WAS IN THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT. SO THEY BETTER PAY US SOON OR THEY ARE GOING TO SEE ALOT MORE OF US QUITE!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: realemt on Jan 13, 2009 at 08:38 PM
misty you must be one of the "brainwashed" employees at life. life did that ONLY to make a quick buck. no other reason. you cant lie to us
Posted by: Misty on Jan 13, 2009 at 10:17 AM
In case anyone here DOES care about the patients..LIFE Ambulance did get all pts (including Dr office appts) ON TIME and never questioned PAS or their pts on changes that were quickly made. The main concern was to make sure they got where they needed to go, and they got there on time. Now that PAS has reopened, their patients have that option of returning to their normal svc witout any problems from LIFE. We were only there to lend a helpin hand and in my book that is all that matters. I hope the best for the PAS employees as I was there "unemployed" right before the holidays. Now that it has re opened i wish all of u the best as I have many friends there. :))
Posted by: Misty on Jan 13, 2009 at 10:02 AM
TO PTCARE...ur little comment..if you were truly worried about pt care why question why LIFE ambulance was picking up dialysis pts...DID THEY NOT NEED A WAY??..or is your idea of pt care of them just sitting at home or NF waiting to see what happened??..sounds like u care about the pts alot. Whomever brought those tickets does not work for LIFE ambulance and never has..THEY DID care about those patients and wanted to make sure they were TAKEN CARE of since PAS was obviously not goin to get them picked up the next day...might wanna take a class on what patient care actually means rather than worrying about WHO helped those patients get a ride the next day.
Posted by: citizen on Jan 13, 2009 at 07:51 AM
This has been a problem for many years in Greenup Co. We have a judge and fisical court that wanted a enhanced 911 service that we need, there is no question about that, but they bought the cart and forgot the horse. I think that people think that because we have e911 that police, fire and ambulance's will fall out of the sky, which is not the case. All of rural Greenup county is not promised a ambulance. P.E.A.S.I. ambulance located in Greenup and Flatwoods is funded primarily by transfer's in the hospital system and offer secondary emergency services to the rural area's of the county as well does these other ambulances services. This is how they operate financially, they depend on these transfer's to keep the doors open. So rural greenup countian's just because you have 911 don't count on getting an ambulance, they could be tied up on transfer while you are having a heart attack! Comforting isn't it! We could have a good service for about 8 to 10 dollars a month on average.
Posted by: DENVER on Jan 12, 2009 at 11:30 PM
NEXT THEY WILL SHUTDOWN THE HOSPITALS AND FIRE THE DOCTORS AND WE WONT HAVE NOTHING WILL WE. OH I LOOK FOR IT, WERE IN ANOTHER DEPRESION, SO YEAH I LOOK FOR IT, MARK ME DOWN .
Posted by: EMT on Jan 12, 2009 at 10:05 PM
HAS THE EMPLOYEES BEEN PAID YET
Posted by: Barack on Jan 12, 2009 at 11:31 AM
This is stupid. I will have my administration work out a system in which you will all be rich, and have all the supplies you need. To the greedy owners, I shall put them in jail and distribute their assets to the empolyees based on seniority. Just don't hold your breath.
Posted by: MTS Employee on Jan 12, 2009 at 11:01 AM
To "mia" instead of posting a blog about your concern why dont you goto Chuck or Ed?? If you knew the situation you should have a problem. There are so many people on both sides of MTS and PAS that just want to complain, no matter what its about. Support your company or find a new job!!
Posted by: MTS Employee on Jan 12, 2009 at 12:19 AM
Whats the deal with supplies?? Mts' units are and will aways be stocked to legal limits, thats more than enough supplies! You wanna talk about things not right, check you CEU! What do you have the big problem with? Mts offered everyone a job even after the buy out went south! You not haveing a job is your descision!
Posted by: PAS GOES TO COURT on Jan 11, 2009 at 09:47 PM
COPY OF SOME COURT RECORDS **THE COURT FINDS** BASED UPON SAID AFFIDAVIT, THAT THE PLTF IS ENTITLED TO DEFAULT JUDGMENT AGAINST THE DEFENDANT PORTSMOUTH AMBULANCE INC. JOINTLY & SEVERLLY IN THE AMT OF $95,000 PLUS INTEREST & COURT COSTS AS PROVIDED BY LAW.NOTICE OF HEARING. STATUS CONF; ON 2-12-09 AT 3 PM JUDGE MARSHALL *********THEY WONT BE IN BUISNESS LONG. THE IRS WILL TAKE OF THAT.........
Posted by: mia on Jan 11, 2009 at 09:23 PM
i think the act of giving the new hires the $650 bonus is not fair the employees who have been with the company through thick n thin they have not even got as much as a thank you from managment. i just hope they realize the respect they have showed to there employees who have been with them since b4 the buyout has realy upset quit a few to the point they are going to walk. as for the buy out it was pa who backed out they are the ones with shareholders who didnt sign the agreement not mts.
Posted by: MTS Employee on Jan 11, 2009 at 06:19 PM
Why blame MTS?? Ask your owners (PAS) whos descision it was not to sale PAS to MTS?? Now your will to go back to PAS not know when or if you will receive a paycheck. SMART
Posted by: emt on Jan 11, 2009 at 04:35 PM
i hope nobody has a heart attack in greenup county, i guess they will no longer be charged a 911 fee.
Posted by: Kera on Jan 11, 2009 at 04:29 PM
I have been employeed @ MTS Ambulance for nearly 5 years, and have been involved with the management team there for quite some time. I don't know full details about the actual deal, but I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Mr. Chuck Williams and his family for everything. MTS has been a great company to work with and for, and I am thankful for the day God allowed our paths to cross. I work as a paramedic in both the 911 and the private setting, and have to confess that I've never seen so much drama! We all have the same cards in our pocket and put our pants on the same way. Do your job, take care of yourself and mind your own business! Instead of being so critical of others, we all need to take a look in the mirror and then thank the good Lord for blessing us with a job. Especially in todays economy. I guess I'll never understand why things happen the way they do, but in the end it will all work out. Thanks so much Chuck! No matter what the public says,I appreciate u.
Posted by: MTSers on Jan 11, 2009 at 03:24 PM
TO MTSers: all you have to do is drive across the street to Boyd Co EMS and let Mr. Sam Lowe take a look at your truck without it's required supplies... problem solved! it's his primary job to take care of those types of matters. then Chucky will really be hurting!
Posted by: Former Employee on Jan 11, 2009 at 03:22 PM
To the mts medic. I have worked for this joke of a company. I needed a portable suction, one day for my truck they gave me a meat base-tor. They said that would work just as well. Plus you all wouldn't know what to do with a true emergenies. So mts medic try running a true emergency call with that unstock piece of junk......which I would say that you all have stolen stock from the pas trucks now.... I have seen a lot a people around the unit the last few days! Hope Mr. MTS goes to jail for stealing!!!
Posted by: Greenup on Jan 11, 2009 at 08:53 AM
I think now is finally the time for judge Bobby Carpenter to step and take over. Greenup County needs a county wide-county ran ALS ambulance service 24/7. This is the perfect oppertunity for him to set a county wide tax to support such a thing. Private ambulance services no matter who they are, are only there for one thing, thats money. If Bobby Carpenter inacted a tax on the whole county, just like the tax that most of the city's in northeastern greenup county pay, the whole county could recieve the same ALS (paramedic staffed) ambulance service as the 7 citys currently do. Neighboring countys have the same ambulance tax and have very succeful 24/7 ALS ambulance services. Its the only way to solve this ongoing problem. THE ONLY WAY! Having another private ambulance service in the county will only make things even worse. Citizens of Greenup County, contact your Judge Exec or your commisioner and let them know we need a county wide ambulance service.
Posted by: mts medic on Jan 11, 2009 at 12:46 AM
COME TO WORK HERE FIND OUT FOR YOUR SELF ITS A GOOD PLACE TO WORK THE ONES BAD MOUTHING THE COMPANY CANT HANDLE RUNING THE DEMAND OF CALLS WE RUN WITH CRYING ABOUT AND FOR MR.WILLIAMS U CANT HAVE A BETTER BOSS
Posted by: Watchful Eye on Jan 10, 2009 at 10:38 PM
And as for MTS "pirating" supplies. There is not a single service out there that I know of (and I have worked for some of the biggest and best) that doesn't pick up items at the hospital from time to time. Chuck Williams position is this, absolutely not. From Chuck to Ed Jones to Gary Moritz, I have never heard anyone in a position of authority at MTS condone aquiring of supplies from the hospital. Chuck's official position on this is you get restocked from the supply room at the station. You never "pirate" supplies from the hospital. That is why if you do your paperwork correctly you fill out a supply voucher with the list of items used and the run number of the call they were used so the items can be tracked. And yes, MTS is understocked compared to some agencies, but they do have the necessary items on the trucks to be licensed. I feel for those who are out of work because of PAS, but it is not Chuck Williams fault. MTS wanted the deal, the investors of PAS backed out.
Posted by: Watchful Eye on Jan 10, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Ok, this is the second post I have tried to make. It seems to me a lot of bad stuff being said about Chuck Williams and MTS, there is far more to it thatn how MTS has acted. The merger was a go until such time as Greg Priddy, former CFO of PAS was terminated. There has been no mention of the fact that the investors suddenly decided to put an end to the deal with MTS. Mr. Williams had every intention of completing this deal and expanding his business. Yes, he is all about the money. He is a businessman. Patient care is left to those of us that do it. If there isn't good patient care then it is the EMT or medics fault. I bypass management to provide good patient care and will continue to do so. Never has that gotten me in trouble. But I digress, when Ed Jones was sent to Portsmouth he was met with immediate hostility from the employees, employees who are now out of a job because they did not take the job offered to them. MTS would have hired every single employee.
Posted by: Glad I live in lawrence co on Jan 10, 2009 at 07:45 PM
I think scioto county should quit messing with these private services providers and go to a true county wide system where they Have more control.
Posted by: Former Employee on Jan 10, 2009 at 07:19 PM
If Mike and Trina has anything to do with reopening Portsmouth it will GO!!!! I would also work for them again...Unlike the two stupid women that tried to run it...GO MIKE AND TRINA!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 10, 2009 at 07:10 PM
PAS is back up and running and they are so much better off without that joke of a company MTS. A transportation service is all that they are....and not a very good one at that....they could care less if they are later for every pick up they have. They have absolutely no clue about running a real EMS service....their trucks are no where near stocked to handle emergencies. And as for the dispatch it's a total joke...they have no clue what a real emergency is and they cross trucks all day long. Chadwick has not a clue! Portsmouth will be a lot better off if MTS is never seen here again. Chuck Williams could care less about his employees or the pt. care that is given....all that he cares about is making money....like all of the money that he made off of the runs that we as PAS employees have done for him that he does not plan on paying us for....that is unless we want to go work for his joke of a company and then we can have our money. People really need to know what MTS is all about!
Posted by: ptcare on Jan 10, 2009 at 07:05 PM
Maybe what also needs to be looked into is how that Life Ambulance knew where all the dialysis patients lived and what time they were to be picked up.And how it is not a violation for a PAS employee to take all the patient info out of the building and give it to another ambulance service
Posted by: Oh mymy on Jan 10, 2009 at 02:46 PM
PA is open for buisness again! There are two trucks on the road as of about an hour ago. Mike and Trina Adkins are playing a big part in the reopening...
Posted by: anon on Jan 10, 2009 at 02:37 PM
maybe scioto county should quit messing with these private services such as MTS (Mashed Tater Service) and go to a true county wide system where they can police the goings on. I have worked for both companies and am currently a paramedic with Cabell County EMS and the quality of service provided @ ccems far exceeds the service recieved @ Either of those services because most quality employees refuse to work for such slimy organizations when you provide stability health insurance and a retirement you tend to retain better people Chuck Williams will never provide any of these things to his employees and will continue to treat them as second class citizens even though it takes them to make his money. he is a snake in the grass never to be trusted.
Posted by: EMT on Jan 10, 2009 at 01:55 PM
Very sorry for the employees. They have families and bills just like everyone else. That's everyone's problem these days, it's all about making the money, not your employees. Your employees is what keeps ur pt's keep coming back, not because they like the company. Employees probably will never see there final paychecks. So ever when they get another job they will have to wait a couple to a few weeks to get a paycheck. And what about those bills that are due now, what r they gonna do about them now??? MTS/PA is horrible. They should have gave them a heads up and THEIR FINAL PAYCHECK THAT THEY WORKED FOR.If I was there pt, I would switch to a better company.
Posted by: Jon Paul on Jan 10, 2009 at 01:12 PM
They steal our rock, we get their ambulance service. Good move...fir one too
Posted by: EMT on Jan 10, 2009 at 01:04 PM
I know that these are bad times, and I know that these displaced will be desperate to find employment. Just a word of advice, DONT GO TO PATRIOT! If you are concerned about your paychecks now, PLEASE do not go to Patriot. If you are concerned about inadequate trucks and improperly stocked trucks, PLEASE do not go to Patriot. This company is no more concerned for its patients, than its employees. Please heed my advice, and dont go to patriot.
Posted by: La Te Da on Jan 10, 2009 at 12:01 PM
I am suprised that Mr.Williams would even consider buying something that (Sherrie & Joy) had any part of. Look at all the business' they have destroyed bc of cover ups and etc. Mr.Williams is just like Sherrie & Joy i have worked for both & all they care about is the money. If MTS Trucks aren't equipped for emergencies then why are they allowed to use sirens & go 70mph down the road almost causing accidents. They are a Medical Transport System so they say. Y don't the former owner of Portsmouth Ambulance take it back? I know that if it was someone else that ran a shady business we would be in jail hands down.But Sherrie,Joy & yea Mr.Williams can get off with nothing. The IRS won't even do anything to Joy & Sherrie I have called.It is a shame someone is told they have job security & Mr.Williams acts like he didn't know how messed up Sherrie & Joy's business is. My prayers go out for those who work for PAC & MTS. ALL ABOUT THE $$$
Posted by: concerned on Jan 10, 2009 at 11:53 AM
All I know is that the hospitals better pay attention to theirt supplies when MTS employees are there. They are taught that it is ok to take what they need, or don't need. It is called Pirating.
Posted by: jeremy on Jan 10, 2009 at 11:26 AM
sounds like a lot of upper management needs to go to prison.
Posted by: Former Employee on Jan 10, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Everything went to pot when these two idot ladies took over the business and started screwing around with the money! They never cared about a patient.... Portsmouth was a great place to work when Mike Adkins had it. I was employed by him for 8 years. He was great! Nobody wants the det owed that goes with portsmouth that joy and sherry made . Thats when the problems started. Hope they lock them both up for about 15 yrs !!!! I know portsmouth still have some good workers and need their paychecks. Someone should step up to the plate an and pay them!!!
Posted by: employee on Jan 10, 2009 at 09:37 AM
It is pretty bad all these people are with out a job, but I'm a employee of MTS, and have been for years, my advice to PA employees is to go somewhere else to work. don't come to MTS they have no respect what so ever for their employees. Most employees that are still at MTS are just their for our pt, and fellow employees. I job at MTS will ruin your life I promise you, take my advice. you could work anywhere, and get treated better than MTS. But if you want to be treated like a DOG, then come on, there are a lot of good employees at MTS, it's just the manage only cares about money. they don't care about pt care, personal problems, family, or anything like that, just making money. And don't expect to have supplies you need on your truck unless it is state inspection time. and don't be surprised to get threatened to lose your job if you don't run a call even without supplies. i believe a full look should be done of both companies, for the better=ment of the pt's.
Posted by: NO NEED FOR CONCERN on Jan 10, 2009 at 09:00 AM
FIRST LETS START OUT WITH THERE IS NO NEED FOR CONCERN FOR INADEQUATE EMERGENCY SERVICES IN THE SCIOTO COUNTY AREA!! BETWEEN ABLE EMS AND LIFE AMBULANCE SCIOTO COUNTY IS MORE THAN "ADEQUATELY" COVERED!!! That being said, I would like for MTS and Mr. Chuck Williams know that the communities in Scioto County have quality standards that are well above any type of service your company could even think to provide to our area! Your ambulances look to be an ambulance, but are nothing of the kind when you step inside. As for Mr. Williams, I know personally that you are a very well unliked person in the Scioto County area, so I don't think your company could be successful due to this reason. Last, ABLE and LIFE have done some unnecessay hiring due to this "STUNT" that MTS has pulled, so to belive you became "SAINTS" after the "BUTCHERING" IS A CROCK OF #!*@... to all PA employees, hang in there, as numbers climb so does the need for EMT's, your turn will come! Have Faith!
Posted by: Kathy in H'town on Jan 10, 2009 at 08:45 AM
This is horrible! For the workers AND people needing medical assistance! This could mean life or death for many $200,000 in judgements? Apparently tax liens etc. BUT more than 250K in workers comp & individual judgements??? What in the world was going ON there? IF that's the case & people were apparently getting hurt either workers or patients or someone then maybe it's a GOOD thing this company is shut down! Is every worker they had suing them for Workers Comp? Wow. Something was sure amiss & no one paying attention to it. I just hope they work it out soon for people needing medical attention
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 10, 2009 at 08:02 AM
It is amazing to me how people can be so good to you when they need you but not care when they don't. I believe MTS should be responsible for paying PA employees, they won't hesitate to collect on the money of the runs we employees did. I have worked for MTS for a few years they only care about money. Nothing else matters, not employee retention, respect, or even having a fit ambulance. I couldn't tell you the times, I have gotten threatened of losing my job because I wouldn't take a run when my ambulance did not have the proper supplies on it.The state makes a required list that is suppose to be on your ambulance,but in their mind they think they can do what they want and don't have rules.People's lives our at stake,but they don't care, it is nothing to get to a run and not have supplies you need.and then the new supervisor they put in charge,says the just told me to seal cabinet,didn't say anything about supplies being in it. PA employees is that really a company u want 2 b part of
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 10, 2009 at 07:51 AM
My advice to everyone at PA don't come to work at MTS. They don't respect any of their employees, they wouldn't even have any employees if it wasn't for the ones of us that feel a obligation to our pt to stay. The sad part to that is MTS has plenty of good employees, but they keep bringing people in like gary morbitz in that is running all the good ones off. For some reason MTS can't just let their employees come in and do their jobs, they have to be on your case about stupid stuff. So what it boils down to is like was mentioned in another comment, its all about the money. MTS employees have always been taken advantage of. You don't get any type of raises,evaluation,sick pay, insurance,or nothing.They can't stand for things to run smooth,the love conflict.Many times we wouldn't have enough people to run trucks,but MTS employees would pull together and get it covered.What thanks do we get nothing,but now,PA employees which have only been there few days get a 650.00 bonus.
Posted by: ginnie on Jan 10, 2009 at 07:20 AM
thay need to care more
Posted by: long time in ems on Jan 10, 2009 at 06:37 AM
I worked for Portsmouth Amb. when Mike and Trina owned it and it was a great place to work. The equipment was top of the line, my paycheck was was always there, and the bills were always PAID! I left the company when Urgent Care took over because I knew it would turn into a three ring circus and just as I suspected Ports. Amb has been a cluster ever since. I have known this has been coming for a long time. It is terrible for the employees and MTS should pony up the dough for the time those employees worked, PERIOD! Im positive Life Amb will employ as many as they can without question. They are very successful company and will provide excellent care to all the portsmouth patients that want their service. As far as MTS coming into portsmouth, well all I have to say is Medcorp couldn't do it, and I am pretty confident that they will just be wasting their time as well!
Posted by: Former pas employee on Jan 10, 2009 at 06:29 AM
When mts merged with pas they promised us continuing ed also but when they doors ended up closing and ed was sent to pick up the trucks and pagers because fat chuck didnt show his face ed brought kera horsely with him to collect these things and at the same time we were told that a basic refresher that was being offered for employees was being cancelled bet it was because it was for mts flunkies only kera also runs with clay 11 I hope that you all dont make it in portsmouth because you at mts dont care about people you guys are always late for your pick ups
Posted by: Tammie on Jan 10, 2009 at 06:20 AM
I am a former employee of PAS and when MTS took over the pt care wasnt the number one priority. The cabinets was sealed and we wasnt allowed to break the seals. MTS only allowed 5 2 x 2's for the crews to use and they put the first out bags in trash bags so tell me they were concerned about pt care. When the doors closed we worried about how the pts were getting to dialysis the next morning, so we started calling our pt and the other companies to make sure our pts were taken care of. An emergency came in when all this was going on in south shore ky and mts was called for a truck but guess what one was not available because I guess all 5 trucks was out. MTS did come to pick up their trucks but didnt return the personal belongings that the employees had when they shut down the south shore station chuck said that the belongings was his now. I think MTS sucks and I pray they never get to run in portsmouth ohio. I hope we all stay in touch we were family and still are good luck to all.
Posted by: whats next? on Jan 10, 2009 at 01:05 AM
I have not worked for this company but many of my family members have. I know for a FACT that when Mike and Trina owned this company it was ran like it should have been run. They were constantly buying new trucks and adding services and had a good staff. When Sherri tried to buy this company she brought in Joy and everything went downhill from that point. Money that was supposed to have been invested back into the company was spent on wild weekends to the riverboat and other expensive hobbies.... It was just a matter of time until this happened. I am sure that when Sherri sold the company to the group of investors they had NO IDEA just how badly she had ran this company into the ground!!!!! Mike and Trina put alot of their life into building Portsmouth Ambulance up and it took Sherri and Joy just a short time to destroy all that hard work. Why do you thin k that most of the original PA staff jumped ship to another ambulance company soon after they took it over.
Posted by: medic on Jan 10, 2009 at 12:22 AM
This doesn't surprise me one bit. As a former employee, I remember saying (on more than a few occasions) 'One day we'll come to work and there will be a sign on the door saying we are closed'. Well, that's just exactly what they did. I for one, NEVER gave them the benefit of the doubt that they may have more respect for their employees than to tape a sign on the door and run and hide. PAS used to be a good place to work. But since UC it has been a downward spiral. I have the utmost respect for my fellow employees and I KNOW that patient care was always their top priority. Not so for the greedy administration. I know the company needs money to stay afloat, but caring about those you care for goes a long way. I feel for my friends who must now worry about how to make ends meet and their children who should not have to suffer because some guy in a suit couldn't get his thumb out of his ass long enough to run a company!! (continued above...)
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 10, 2009 at 12:18 AM
I hope everything works out good for the workers you are in my prayers.
Posted by: An MTS Employee on Jan 9, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Maybe everyone should go and read the article that is on The Portsmouth Daily Times' website. It for the most part has both sides of the story...something in which this does not. Everything will come out in the wash as everything always does. To the PAS employees who read this I am praying and hoping the best for each of you. If you come to work with us welcome back if you choose not to it was a pleasure working with you.
Posted by: Wishing For A Check!! on Jan 9, 2009 at 11:27 PM
I have worked for this company for the past 3 years and have gave alot of time for this place (portsmouth ambulance)and all of a sudden we are without a job as of 6:00pm on Jan 07 2009, we (employees) were not even notified until yesterday around 7:00pm when ed jones came in and stated "the deal did not go through and it is up to the investment group to pay" if thats so why is it that our W2's ended on Nov.28th and MTS will be sending us a W2 if thats so it seems to me that we were employees of MTS. We were given a new hire packet which was filled out when the "infamous" picture appeared in our local Portsmouth Daliy Times and we submitted our bank info for direct deposit, previous work history, and references. I wonder if someone with some authority were to go to MTS in Ashland Ky if they would find the packets that were filled out that day. Ed Jones called them information packets last night on the departure of MTS and the closing of Portsmouth Ambulance. Wish everyone the best. -ALR-
Posted by: former PAS employee on Jan 9, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Chuck does not care about his employees!! hes all in it for the money!! I would have rather worked for PAS anyday
Posted by: some on Jan 9, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Good luck with LIFE (or death) ambulance covering Greenup County. I, as a former employee, had unstocked trucks also, and all the office that I worked out of cared about was getting that next transport to get the money. Hope everything turns out for the best for everyone.
Posted by: former employee on Jan 9, 2009 at 10:07 PM
First of all it is a shame that everybody lost there jobs.. But if you are going to point fingers at anybody it should be JOY and SHERRY.. It was those two geniuses that ran a million dollar company into the ground!!!!! They purchased a great business and let it all go. MTS had a solution for the problem and like always greed got in the way. Once more I feel bad for those who lost there jobs and wish them luck in the future. Prime example LET YOUR MANAGEMENT MANAGE!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 9, 2009 at 09:56 PM
I will pray for the people of Portsmouth, since Life,(DEATH)is moving into their area. They came here and have been nothing but bad news.They do not offer a competent level of patient care and lack basic abilites to perform EMS skills.
Posted by: A Soon To Be EMT on Jan 9, 2009 at 09:20 PM
When I signed up for EMT class I thought there would be adequate EMT positions in the area but now the future of EMS in the Portsmouth area looks grim.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 9, 2009 at 09:18 PM
I have watched this situation unfold and it is unfortunate that it came to the closing of PAS. A group of management from MTS went to Portsmouth yesterday evening to discuss the hiring of all the employees that worked for PAS. They were not met with a open mind but with hostility and apprehension. The rumors of the day had already taken a toll and many were already angry. Some of the employees who stayed with MTS were called and asked how they could turn there backs on PAS, but how could they not. They have to get paid and provide for their families just like everyone else. I for one believe this deal wouldn't have fallen through if not for the actions of a select few on the PAS side. Greg Priddy needs to be asked his roll in getting the investers to change their mind after he was discharged from MTS/PAS. I am sure that his influence was not without a role in the merger falling through due to several investors suddenly being unaware of a pending merger, a merger from before Dec.
Posted by: Phil on Jan 9, 2009 at 08:54 PM
As a former employee of Life Ambulance Co. I know there was a long struggle between Life & PA, with some people migrating from one Co. to the other almost weekly. I had learned of some shady stuff going on in the upper echelon of PA back in the 1990s. And MTS has never had much of a reputation. I hope the now-former employees sue the PA-MTS management into a cardboard box. And I wanna again thank Mike Pistole, founder & operator of Life Ambulance, & hus family, for providing me work while I was laid off from the steel industry. Mr. pistole runs an above-the-table business which does a fine job in providing both emergency ambulance service & invalid transport. Life now has stations in Huntington & near Wayne. Call them if you need an invalided loved one taken from a nursing home to a doctor's ofc. for a routine appointment & back again. It's covered by medicare if the dr. signs a form showing ambulance transport is necessary.
Posted by: Bryan on Jan 9, 2009 at 08:29 PM
I watched the video on the story and I have one question. Did Mr.Vermillion curse or am I just hearing things.
Posted by: Former Employee on Jan 9, 2009 at 07:47 PM
WE AS FORMER EMPLOYEES WOULD LIKE WHAT IS DUE TO US FOR THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE FOR THE PAST 3 WEEKS.NO MORE OR NO LESS. (M)aybe (T)here (S)oon
Posted by: Really Concern on Jan 9, 2009 at 06:13 PM
I hope everyone can find a new job soon. Just dont get to desperate and go to Patriot. The family who lost their jobs are in our thoughts and prayers. My husband and I too, have been in EMS for 15 years.
Posted by: shame on Jan 9, 2009 at 06:12 PM
i don't see how mts isn't responsible for the payroll when they were leasing the employees and had paid the previous two payrolls.... shame on them.... i always heard they were crooked, mts's father and son.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 9, 2009 at 05:37 PM
It is a terrible situation that the employees of PA find themselves in and I wish them only the best, hoping they get the money they are due and have earned. And... as far as patient care goes... the employee's patient care is not in question. Regardless of who is responsible for this... my concern is for the employees that are losing their jobs at an inopportune time in this country, and the patients that are trying to arrange other means of transportation to appointments, radiation treatments, dialysis, and in some cases... to the emergency room. My thoughts go out to the employees. And as for the patients... PA may be gone for now, but an ambulance will still be there if and when you need it.
Posted by: carl on Jan 9, 2009 at 05:24 PM
i think it is a shame and a lowdown dirty way to sutdown a company.they work very hard to keep it open. my sister lost her job because of it thats wrong!!! nice way to start a new year.
Posted by: RUSSELL on Jan 9, 2009 at 05:17 PM
MTS MUST THINK THEY CAN SURIVIE BY WANTING TO LOCATE IN PORTSMOUTH. THEY PROVIDE A GREAT SERVICE IN ASHLAND. MR. WILLIAMS WILL DO WELL FOR THE PORTSMOUTH COMMUNITY
Posted by: employee on Jan 9, 2009 at 05:06 PM
Quality patient care is not a top priority of Chuck Williams, CEO of MTS. I should know I have worked for MTS several years. MTS may have a large fleet but that does not mean they are going to be available when needed. Their trucks may look like an ambulance on the outside but once you step inside, it's an embarassment. Their trucks are inadequately stocked to handle any type of an emergency. MTS is just out to see how much money they can get off from people.
Posted by: Jackie on Jan 9, 2009 at 04:30 PM
I heard that not all the investors knew what was going on really because they were never given information from the management. Sounds like someone was might be taking some money off the top without telling anybody.
Posted by: Tiffany Wright on Jan 9, 2009 at 04:03 PM
When MTS took over they made us fill out an application and a tax form. They told us in a meeting that we were now MTS employees, but refuse to pay us for the 2 and a half weeks we work for them and under their name. I recieved my W2 forms from PAS today and it ended on Nov 28th. So I was employeed for MTS from Nov 29th until yesterday. We did runs that they billed our patients through medicaid and medicare for but refuse to pay us for it. They need to stop pushing this all off on the investors and pay us what we deserve. We WERE their employees!
Posted by: tiffany wright on Jan 9, 2009 at 03:57 PM
I am a former employee of PAS. My job is to help people in the community in their time of need. Portsmouth ambulance might not have been the best run company in this area but patient care was our top priority always. The patient always came first, until MTS took us over. Then it was all about the money. They didnt care about being late for a pick up or how long it took to get the unresponsive pt. Money was all that mattered to them. They fired several employees of ours who had worked for us for many years, two days before christmas. Im glad that this buy out didnt happen. I dont want to work for a company that doesnt care about the patients well being or its employees.
Posted by: ROB on Jan 9, 2009 at 02:56 PM
This is crazy! These employees have busted their butts for both companies in the last month. Now they don't even know when they are gonna receive their paycheck or who it will be coming from. I know for a fact that when this was first released to the employees they were told that it was a merge and that their paychecks were being taken over by MTS and they even started a direct deposit for all Portsmouth employees. Now today MTS is saying that they aren't responsible for their payroll. This is BS you have made alot just since the change and I am certain that these employees who didn't receive a payday today did MTS runs that you made profit from. I think both MTS and Ports. should be responsible for their payday today and they shouldn't have to wait on it. These people have bills and families to support just like everyone else. So step up and take on the responsibility that both companies agreed on in December. I bet you anything you didn't have to wait on employees to do their jobs!!!
Posted by: Former Employee on Jan 9, 2009 at 02:48 PM
Oh my, Lynn I dont think there is enough time in the year to investigate what all has happened since it was bought by Urgent Care{aka Sherri and Joy) and then the investiment group, they would all be in jail for illegal actions, but seems like criminals always walk away smelling like a rose. The IRS did come in and seize all the Urgent Care owned items, a few years back, but the two ladies are still free and have not been brought up on any charges. If you go to the Scioto County Courts web page and type in Portsmouth Ambulance and look at some of the court cases, you will wonder how it ever stayed in business as long as they did, and so many companies that items were bought from never got paid, and supplies were only ordered like once a month if crews were lucky.Plus the investment group bought used ambulances and spent lots of money, and still they wouldnt run, why didnt you just buy new, or was it because you didnt have credit, plus the trucks never got WV inspected due to supplies!
Posted by: Kim on Jan 9, 2009 at 01:58 PM
MY son worked for this company. I think They had better get there business straight so they can pay there employees. People will start losing there homes,cars and ect. and what about the people in the area depending on thir sevices. The company is hurting everyone.
Posted by: Concerned on Jan 9, 2009 at 01:51 PM
This is such a loss to the community and to all of the employees who have lost their jobs due to this. I hope and pray that each and everyone of them find new jobs soon. It is really gonna be hard to find one, with everywhere you look companies and businesses are shutting down or laying off so many.
Posted by: lynn on Jan 9, 2009 at 01:01 PM
I think people are not being told the whole story. Upper management for either company are being cowards by not taking responsibility for their actions. Most of the workers who lost their jobs are hard working and have stood by all those involved by continuing to work , even when not sure of their futures. Whether it's the investors or MTS the bottom line is how much money they can make off others. By any means! Patients who use either company should switch because their welfare is not foremost with either business. Only the money the patient represents. There should be an investigation of all concerned with this problem. This includes froom the time Portsmouth was bought by Urgent Care to present. If the regular person had done some of the things thats been and is being done, they would already be under the jail, not in it. I guess money really does all the talking, reguardless of who suffers.
Posted by: citizen on Jan 9, 2009 at 12:53 PM
It sounds like MTS was just trying to weasel their way into Portsmouth by shutting down Portsmouth Ambulance.
Posted by: Former Employee on Jan 9, 2009 at 12:31 PM
It seems everyone thinks they are going to make a quick million, by getting into the ambulance business, maybe they should worry about the most important issue and that is PATIENT CARE!!!! This service was a very stable and well run business when Mike and Trena Adkins owned and operated it, as they made sure the company and employees were first, then two ladies took over and ran it in the ground with poor business ways, and then an investment team came in mostly doctors thinking they would make a quick million, but it didnt happen. I have been in Emergency Services for 20 years and have never seen such a poorly run company as this one has been over the past several years, it is a shame that the employees, who try to do a job they love and want to help people are the ones suffering, and patients who need this service are now hurting because of such stupid things. Maybe they should contact the Adkins family and see if they are interested in taking the company back over!!!!!!
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