Trustee may look into providing ambulance service

She said she just wants to investigate the possibility of an ambulance service.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Even though the township is talking about a levy possibility within two years to address decreased revenue and dwindling cash reserves, one trustee wants to explore the feasibility of providing ambulance service.
Kathy Miller has asked Fire Chief James Dorman to conduct a study to determine whether it would be feasible for the township to operate its own service.
"We have well-trained, highly educated firemen," she said. "But because the department is only a first responder, they can't act as paramedics -- even though some of them are."
Miller pointed to the number of emergency medical calls the department receives: 2,472 in 2005, according to the department's annual report. That's up from 2,311 EMS calls in 2004.
"I just thought we should look at it to see if it makes sense," Miller said.
Dorman said that as first responders, firefighters administer first aid, including performing CPR and using automatic external defibrillators, when necessary, to stabilize patients. When an ambulance arrives, paramedics take over and are able to provide another level of care and transport to a hospital.
First responder is a state level of certification.
The township uses a rotation of three different ambulance companies. The rotation aligns with firefighters' 24-hour shifts. There is no cost to the township.
Looking ahead
"My whole goal is just to look to the future," Miller said.
She said she wants to explore the costs vs. benefits of creating ambulance service, necessary equipment and personnel.
Other communities that provide ambulance service contract with companies to handle billing, the trustee said.
"It could mean more people as long as it can be justified to the community and we can cover the expense of it," Miller said.
Dorman said he intends initially to conduct general research that may provide information to help determine in what direction the study might go.
Some firefighters with the department who are certified paramedics have offered to help, he said.
The idea for ambulance service has been broached in the past, but previous trustee panels elected not to pursue it.