1 Fire Department-Based Ambulance August 27, 2007 Paul Cohen, Town Manager
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 1/23
1
Fire Department-Based Ambulance
August 27, 2007
Paul Cohen, Town Manager
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 2/23
2
AcknowledgementThank You to:
- Fire Chief Jack Parow
- Police Chief Jim Murphy
- Finance Director Kerry Speidel
- Assistant to the Town Manager Kellie Hebert
For Their Contributions in Analyzing theAlternatives for Ambulance Transportation
Services.
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 3/23
3
Goals
High-Quality Pre-Hospital Emergency
Medical Care
Public Safety: Have All Five Fire Stations
Open to Provide Effective Response Time
for Fire and Medical Emergencies
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 4/23
4
Why Consider This?
Currently Closing A Fire Station Daily Due
to Budgetary Constraints
Five-Year Financial Forecast Projects
Mounting Budgetary Deficits
Contract with Trinity Expires on 12/31/07
All Aspects of Town Operations Being
Reviewed For Effectiveness.
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 5/23
5
Ambulance Call Volume
Calendar 2006: 2,648 Medical Calls
Average of 7.25/day
2,145 Medical Transports (81% of calls)
Average of 6/day
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 6/23
6
Current Medical ResponseFire Department Responds to All Calls
54 of 56 of Firefighters are EMTs
Trinity EMS Staffs an Ambulance 24/7 inChelmsford Center at No Cost to the Town.Trinity Transports Patients to the Hospital & BillsPatients for Ambulance Transportation Services.Secondary Response Ambulances Are Available
from Trinity’s Main Headquarters at Drum Hill.
Greater Lowell Emergency Medical ServiceProvides Paramedic Service
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 7/23
7
Fire-Based Ambulance
Two Transport Ambulances – One At
Center Station & Other At West Fire Station
Hire Five Additional Firefighter/EMTs
New Fire Captain Oversees Operations
Transport Patients to Hospital
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 8/23
8
Fire Dept. Staffing LevelsCurrent Staffing Level: 13 Assigned perShift with Minimum of 9.
Daily Closing of Either East, South, or WestFire Station.
Proposed Staffing Level: 14 Assigned perShift, with Minimum of 12.
All Five Fire Stations Open.
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 9/23
9
Simultaneous Ambulance Transports
Calendar 2006: Average of 23/Month AreTwo Transports Within 90 Minutes
Average of 3/Month Are Three TransportsWithin 90 Minutes.
Fire Department Responds to All MedicalCalls
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 10/23
10
Mutual AidEstablish Mutual Aid Agreements withWestford, Tewksbury, Billerica, & Carlisle.
Seek to Establish Mutual Aid Agreementswith Private Ambulance Providers.
Chelmsford Would Respond to Mutual AidRequests From Other Communities.
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 11/23
11
Enhanced Public SafetyAll Five Fire Stations Open Provides FasterResponse Time for Fire and Medical Emergencies.
Firefighters/EMTs Assigned Per Shift Increasesfrom 13 to 14 and the Minimum Per ShiftIncreases from 9 to 12.
Weekday Compliment of 19 Uniformed Personnelif All Positions are Filled.
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 12/23
12
Other Mass. Cities & Towns
69%, which is 242 out of 351,
Massachusetts Cities & Towns Provide a
Town-Based Ambulance Service.
Adjoining Communities of Tewksbury,
Billerica (Separate Dept.), Westford, &Carlisle Provide Fire-Based Ambulance..
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 13/23
13
Finances
Switch to Attached Financial Spreadsheets
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 14/23
14
QuestionCan This Be Done with Only Five Additional
Firefighter/EMTs?
Yes, because the additional staffing levels provide
the necessary personnel to staff the ambulance.
Comparable towns such as Tewksbury & North
Andover operate with 12 Firefighter/EMTMinimum Staffing Levels.
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 15/23
15
Question
What is the cost to increase the minimum
staffing to 12 personnel?
This cost is exceeds $100,000. Funding for
the additional staffing levels would come
from the projected $250,000 in net revenuefrom ambulance operations.
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 16/23
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 17/23
17
QuestionWhy doesn’t the Town consolidate thenumber of fire stations?
A recently completed analysis performed bythe MMA Consulting Group concludes thatthe Town needs to maintain its five firestations to provide an effective responsetime for fire and medical emergencies.
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 18/23
18
QuestionWhat about the cost for pension and retired health
insurance for the five new Firefighter/EMTs?
The contribution levels of newly hired employees
into the pension system essentially covers their
future pension costs. As for retired health
insurance costs, these costs would not be incurredfor about 30 years. It’s uncertain what this
nation’s health care system will be at that time.
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 19/23
19
Question
What About the Additional Liability?
The Town already responds to all medical
emergency calls and has liability insurance
coverage. There is no additional premium
if the Town were to provide ambulancetransportation service.
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 20/23
20
QuestionWould there be additional Workers’Compensation insurance costs?
Police and Firefighters are not covered underWorkers Compensation insurance, but are coveredby MGL Chapter 41, Section 111F which provides
for no loss of pay if injured on duty. The Townhas an insurance policy for injured on dutymedical costs and lost time. The Town alreadyresponds to medical emergency calls.
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 21/23
21
Question
How will ambulance billing take place?
The Town would contract with a vendor that
is experienced in municipal ambulance
billing services. The fee is estimated to be
4% of funds collected and is included in thisanalysis.
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 22/23
22
Question
Could a Fire-Based Ambulance Service be
Operational By January 1?
Yes, the Town could purchase a new
ambulance off the State bid list and receive
the vehicle within a few weeks. ExistingFirefighters are already trained as EMTs.
8/6/2019 Ambulance 07 Presentation Manager 082707
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ambulance-07-presentation-manager-082707 23/23
23
Closing Thought“Finally, we believe that the most important element of emergency rescue is a well-trained and professional FirstResponse team. The Town should never lose sight of the
fact that it is the immediate response of our EMT-trainedfirefighters, police officers and ambulance personnel inthose first few minutes of an emergency medical situationwhich can literally determine life or death. During thehighly publicized and politicized course of our study, this
has remained the central focus of our committee.”
Ambulance Study Committee Final Report June 26, 1995