BERNARDSTON — A regional ambulance service might be the way to go, town officials from Northfield and Bernardston have discussed.
Technically, a regional service would come down to Northfield EMS expanding to become the primary service provider for Bernardston. The revenue from the extra call volume would enable Northfield EMS to provide more reliable service to both towns than what it can presently do for just Northfield, EMS Chief Mark Fortier says.
The two towns’ selectboards liked that idea when they talked about it this week with Fortier and Bernardston Fire Chief Pete Shedd, who coordinates Bernardston’s ambulance services. A “trial period” was tentatively agreed on.
Bernardston currently uses Medcare as its primary ambulance provider. Lately, service has gone downhill, Shedd said, with Medcare sometimes sending crews from Springfield who need directions to Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield. About half of Bernardston’s calls end up being answered by Northfield EMS, Shedd said.
Also problematic is that Medcare is being taken over by a company called American Medical Response (AMR), effective Dec. 16. As of Wednesday, Shedd had not been able to talk to anyone at AMR, and was concerned that routine dealings with the company would be difficult.
“I’m not getting a real warm, fuzzy feeling,” Shedd said.
Expanding would make business sense for Northfield EMS. The organization runs on an enterprise model, meaning that it is paid for by the revenue it takes in through calls. The only money it has gotten from the town of Northfield since it switched to the enterprise model in 2010 was for a new ambulance, purchased on a five-year payment plan that will finish in 2021.
The current model only works with a volunteer staff though, and lately the organization has been relying on fewer and fewer volunteers, while it has been taking more and more calls, Fortier said. This year, Northfield EMS is projected to take 850 calls, “a dramatic increase” from when the enterprise model was adopted, Fortier said.
“It’s a reality of the times that volunteerism is dying,” he said.
The extra calls from Bernardston would give Northfield EMS enough money for a paid staff, Fortier says, and time wouldn’t be wasted finding someone to take a call.
“We are not forced to have to make a huge profit every year in order to be sustainable. This is an organization that is here for our citizens,” Fortier told the Bernardston and Northfield Selectboards and Shedd this week, contrasting his organization with the larger companies Bernardston has been working with. “We are a municipality. We are your neighbors. We’re not going anywhere.”
The “trial period” that the towns decided on has to be finalized by Shedd and the rest of the Fire Department. If it is ok’d, Shedd said it will likely last three or four months. In the meantime, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments will gather information the towns will need to finalize an agreement, such as each population’s insurance coverage and estimates on total call volume.
Contact Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-772-0261 ex 261.