Good Samaritan Hospital fell victim once again to a Lebanon resident who "cried wolf" (called for help, but didn't need it).
Over the past few months, William Trostle IV of Lebanon, has called for an ambulance more than 50 times when he didn't need it.
With the most recent call, on February 16th, crews were called to Trostle's home in the 800 Block of Crowell Street for a person who was having trouble breathing.
When crews arrived at the house, Trostle refused to answer the door and denied medical issues. He then told EMS he did need taken to Good Samaritan.
After arriving at Good Samaritan, Trostle asked for a sandwich and a room with a TV. But when officials at the hospital denied his request, he told them he didn't actually have a medical issue and refused treatment.
Officials asked Trostle to leave the hospital, but he refused.
Police say Trostle, called for an ambulance over 50 times in the past few months, to take him to Good Samaritan. All 50 calls were deemed unecessary for treatment.
If you tell a hospital, like Good Samaritan that you need help, they'll help you, legally they have to. Bill Mulligan, from Good Samaritan says they respond to all calls. "It's important that we do that for legal standards. But we also feel that's our role as a community hospital to make sure we are here for patients that are having emergencies."
Another Lebanon resident, Darryl Kramer was at Good Samaritan recently, but unlike Trostle he really needed the care. He was shocked that Trostle would call the ambulance when he didn't need it. "There could have been a really dire emergency, but they've gotta play around with some guy ordering a sandwich. Basically he's too darn lazy to get off his butt to get a job and buy it himself."
We went to William Trostle's address to see if he could explain his actions, but we got no answer.
"In this case, where somebody's basically wasting time, it is unfortunate that those resources are going to that person instead of going where they really need to be helping people."
Mulligan says people who make calls like this often don't pay for it. "They often don't pay the hospital, and then the hospital basically has to write off the cost."
But the amount they write off is a staggering number. "Last year we did $20 million in charitable and uncompensated care."
Trostle was charged with three misdemeanors. Lebanon Police and Good Samaritan hope that's enough to keep this from happening again.
Over the past few months, William Trostle IV of Lebanon, has called for an ambulance more than 50 times when he didn't need it.
With the most recent call, on February 16th, crews were called to Trostle's home in the 800 Block of Crowell Street for a person who was having trouble breathing.
When crews arrived at the house, Trostle refused to answer the door and denied medical issues. He then told EMS he did need taken to Good Samaritan.
After arriving at Good Samaritan, Trostle asked for a sandwich and a room with a TV. But when officials at the hospital denied his request, he told them he didn't actually have a medical issue and refused treatment.
Officials asked Trostle to leave the hospital, but he refused.
Police say Trostle, called for an ambulance over 50 times in the past few months, to take him to Good Samaritan. All 50 calls were deemed unecessary for treatment.
If you tell a hospital, like Good Samaritan that you need help, they'll help you, legally they have to. Bill Mulligan, from Good Samaritan says they respond to all calls. "It's important that we do that for legal standards. But we also feel that's our role as a community hospital to make sure we are here for patients that are having emergencies."
Another Lebanon resident, Darryl Kramer was at Good Samaritan recently, but unlike Trostle he really needed the care. He was shocked that Trostle would call the ambulance when he didn't need it. "There could have been a really dire emergency, but they've gotta play around with some guy ordering a sandwich. Basically he's too darn lazy to get off his butt to get a job and buy it himself."
We went to William Trostle's address to see if he could explain his actions, but we got no answer.
"In this case, where somebody's basically wasting time, it is unfortunate that those resources are going to that person instead of going where they really need to be helping people."
Mulligan says people who make calls like this often don't pay for it. "They often don't pay the hospital, and then the hospital basically has to write off the cost."
But the amount they write off is a staggering number. "Last year we did $20 million in charitable and uncompensated care."
Trostle was charged with three misdemeanors. Lebanon Police and Good Samaritan hope that's enough to keep this from happening again.