To the editor:

Both of my parents passed away in the past year-and-a-half. Prior to that, each had episodes which required trips to hospital emergency rooms, generally by ambulance. Most of the outbound trips were with Bainbridge Ambulance and all of the returns were with either Olympic or AMR.

The differences in quality-of-care and price were remarkable. Even with Medicare paying about 80 percent, the bills from both Olympic and AMR were startling.  The fees from both of these agencies were significantly higher than with Bainbridge Ambulance. In addition, I would assume the outbound trips to the hospital required a greater level of care for my sick parents while the returns would have been just transportation.

It is my understanding that one of the incoming fire commissioners has prior ties to the Central Kitsap fire department. That area is very much Olympic Ambulance territory, and I would hope that prior relationship doesn’t affect her vote.

I was very satisfied with the care given to my parents by both Bainbridge Fire Department and Bainbridge Ambulance Service, and I hope that their relationship continues.

KATIE BROWN

Bainbridge Island