In a frenzied doctor shopping spree, a Florida woman was transported by ambulance to seven different hospitals in a 26-hour period in a bid to obtain prescription pain medication, according to police who arrested her for misuse of the 911 system.
Investigators charge that Kimberly Keener, 40, repeatedly called 911 for transport to hospitals in Pinellas County. Beginning early Thursday morning, Keener, a Bradenton resident, was brought to seven separate hospitals by Sunstar Paramedics, which provides ambulance services in Pinellas County.
Keener sought to “obtain fraudulent prescription pain medication,” according to an arrest affidavit. Court filings do not indicate what maladies Keener claimed as she repeatedly called 911, or whether her scheme was a success.
Pictured above, Keener was arrested around 4 AM Friday at St. Petersburg General Hospital, final stop on her 2017 Pill Tour.
Keener, who reportedly admitted to the scheme, was charged with misuse of the 911 system and obtaining controlled substances by fraud, a felony. Locked up on $5150 bond in the county jail, Keener is also facing a probation violation rap in connection with a misdemeanor theft conviction from late-January.
Sorry about that all u paramedics! U r all wonderful and so kind. I have called several times, my daughter has brain cancer and seizures. It’s a shame somewhat like that takes up ur precious time. God bless u all😀
Been there. I transport them to the same closest facility. After all, it must be a life threatening emergency that requires an ambulance. That being the case, I have to stop at that hospital. I don’t even give them an option to go elsewhere. Get in, lets go. Eventually they stop calling 911 for their drug seeking.
There is at least one person like her in every major metropolitan area of the good ol’ US of A. Been there, transported them.
Because by law, in Ohio at least, 911 cannot deny you transport to a hospital. We cannot refuse you based on symptoms or lack thereof. It sucks really.
We can deny transportation in Florida but the first time a paramedic denies transportation and that person is sick the paramedic would lose certification. So it’s not worth it.
Why did it take 7 times? She should have been at the limit by three calls, at the most.
Unfortunately ambulance personnel has to transport someone to a hospital if they call 911 and ask to be taken, it’s not our place to tell them no heaven forbid they are having an actual medical emergency and we refuse transport then we are held liable, we get these calls all the time and we can do nothing but charge them for a non emergent transport…unfortunately our hands are tied