By Doug La Rocque
Many are aware that some area volunteer ambulance corps have been suffering from a lack of personnel. The Eastwick Press has reported on the dilemma several times. Every now and then the situation becomes more critical.
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Grafton Rescue Squad Captain Joe Allain says that at any given time, there are only three people who tend to respond to an emergency call, and it’s almost always the same three people. Only two of them are currently Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), so at least one of those EMTs must answer the call or the ambulance cannot respond.
Petersburgh Volunteer Ambulance Corps Captain Angela Chittenden said they may have a couple more active members than Grafton, but during the daytime when people are at work and may not be able to leave to respond to a call, they too often lack sufficient personnel to respond.
In Berlin, the ambulance is a function of the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department. Captain Tammy Osterhout says while this may give them larger pool of drivers to draw from, they are also down to just three EMTs. Given that all three hold daytime jobs and may not be able to respond from work, there are many instances where they too cannot get an ambulance on the street. Countywide, there are daily examples of this problem. Rensselaer County Emergency Dispatch Services must sometimes roll these calls from one agency to another before one is able to respond.
Obviously, recruiting more volunteers would ease the strain. But it is not that easy. Becoming an EMT is no simple chore. Osterhout said New York State requires you attend 190 hours of classroom training, as well as spending time aboard an ambulance. You must then pass a written and skills test, and receive your results about six weeks later. The course meets evenings and Saturdays for about five months. Currently such a class is being taught in Petersburgh but Osterhout says this is the first time the course has been offered in the Taconic Valley since 2011. Grafton Captain Allain says such an extensive time commitment is more than most are able or are willing to give. Petersburgh Captain Chittenden said these extensive requirements are making it tough for the small rural ambulance corps to attract enough volunteers to survive.
Grafton Rescue Squad To Begin Billing For Services
Staffing levels are not the only serious constraint. With rising medical supply costs, insurances and vehicle maintenance, finding enough funds to keep an ambulance corps solvent is also a growing concern. Allain gives one example. All ambulances are required to carry epinephrine injectables, often referred to as epi pens. These cost $1000 apiece and are only good for a year before they must be disposed of. These ambulances must have at least one adult and one pediatric pen on board at all times. Add in the cost of all the other supplies they must carry and it becomes a significant financial commitment. Many corps are also using older model vehicles. Osterhout said Berlin is always putting money into their ambulance just to keep it road worthy. Finding the money they need to operate is a continuing endeavor. Both the Grafton and Petersburgh Corps receive money from their town’s budgets. They also rely heavily on donations. The Petersburgh Ambulance Corp began billing private insurances as well as Medicare and Medicaid for their services a few years ago. They then bill the person they provided the service to for any co pays. The Grafton Rescue Squad is beginning a similar program. In Petersburgh, Captain Chittenden says the money is needed just to fund the day to day operations. In Grafton, Joe Allain said they hope to use some of these funds to provide a stipend to attract more EMTs for daytime service. Grafton becomes the last volunteer operation not associated with a Fire Department in Rensselaer County to begin this billing program. The Berlin and Stephentown ambulances are operated by fire companies, and thus by law are not allowed to bill for services. Their funding comes from the fire department budget and donations.
The concern for the future of these volunteer ambulance corps is very real. In fact, Berlin’s Osterhout said if things don’t change soon, she fears these volunteer corps will fold and towns will be forced to assume the burden of funding a paid service. Grafton’s Allain is a bit more optimistic. He said Grafton and Petersburgh now try to work together, providing the missing personnel for a call in the other’s district when possible. The objective of course to find a way to “get the ambulance off the floor.”
These shared services are not the only idea being discussed. Some are exploring if there are ways to provide paid personnel in the daytime, without having to contract with a private ambulance service? And some are wondering if State regulations have become too onerous, and are making it impossible for the small volunteer ambulance squads to operate. The Eastwick Press will seek to learn more about these questions for future articles.[/private]