Effective beginning next week, a second County Ambulance that was available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, will now be available 16 hours per day, 7 days per week until the end of the year.
According to County Administrator Scott Schrader, the service levels have creeped up over the course of the year to two ambulances available 24 hours 7 days a week, with a fly car.
“I have directed the EMS Director to conform the service level to that which was budgeted by the Board of Supervisors as it has come to my attention that the service level exceeded that which was intended.”
In September of last year, the Wyoming County Board of Supervisors approved the creation of a Countywide Ambulance program. The move was prompted by the cancellation of an agreement with Monroe Ambulance that ended December 15, 2023.
Previously:
Monroe Ambulance cited staffing, low reimbursement and inefficiencies due to the geographic
distance of Wyoming County from their operations headquarters in Rochester, NY as reasons for
the cancellation of the agreement.
Schrader says ambulance calls will be covered in the same manner as has been provided. “If a second ambulance is needed during the off period, personnel will be called in to cover. Otherwise, mutual aid will be utilized as is current practice.”
Schrader hopes to bring the topic up for discussion at future Board of Supervisor meetings.
“I have advised EMS that if they feel that the higher level of service is necessary instead of “wanted”, then they should prepare a presentation, with statistics, justifying their position.”
When asked if operating the second ambulance for 8 less hours per day will cause a delay in response times, Schrader responded, “There is always that possibility which is being explored and researched by the Department at this time for presentation before the Board of Supervisors sometime towards the beginning of the new year. What impact a second ambulance has on response times is part of that research.”