HATFIELD — Concerns are brewing about the viability of the town’s current ambulance service, prompting officials to examine whether the town should invest more to keep the service going or look at contracting the services out to outside agencies.
Even with approval to fill vacant Fire Department shifts through per-diem pay and an increase in standby pay, concerns about the current service are forcing the Select Board and Finance Committee to begin discussing how to increase the town’s investment to make sure that a town ambulance responds whenever emergency help is requested by residents and businesses.
The boards last week learned that without adding a new full-time firefighter EMT basic, and possibly hiring a full-time paramedic in the new year, the Fire Department may be unable to handle as many calls with its own ambulance, possibly leading to delays in response from out-of-town ambulances and a loss of around $700 earned from insurance payments from each ambulance call.
“If you don’t have shift coverage, you’re relying on a small number of people or mutual aid comes in,” Fire Chief Robert Flaherty said. “Every time that happens patients are waiting for upwards of 10 to 12 minutes.”
While this problem has not shown up yet — 78% of the ambulance calls have been covered by the town Fire Department this year — there are risks as Flaherty anticipates losing paramedics in the new year.
So far this year, the department has handled 369 medical calls and made 258 transports to medical facilities. In November, there were 56 total calls, 47 of which were medical. But Flaherty said his department missed seven ambulance calls that month, enough revenue to cover a month’s salary.
Currently, Flaherty tries to have service for 16 hours a day, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week, and is trying to bolster the ranks so he only has to fill eight shifts, instead of 18. More shifts can be difficult to fill using per diem pay, since people can choose whether or not to work.
Fire Capt. Luke Longstreeth explained what is being sought.
“The ambulance service has grown since we’ve been able to put these positions into effect, and we just want to make sure it stays at this high level, and that’s why we’re looking at this position,” Longstreeth said.
As the idea of a Proposition 2½ general override is considered, Flaherty said the ambulance has been fully self-supporting since being created by the Lions Club and then put under the Fire Department.
Chairwoman Diana Szynal said as budget preparations for next year begin, decisions will have to be made. “We want to make sure that when you call 911 you’re going to get prompt, professional response,” Szynal said.
The board sent a letter to the community before Thanksgiving explaining what is happening: “The idea that the Select Board does not support our emergency services, or is planning to do away with ambulance response, could not be more dishonest. We want to go on record as being fully supportive of our ambulance department and Chief Flaherty.”
Szynal said she became aware of the problems that exist when former Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz informed her that Northampton was responding with its ambulances to Hatfield too often to provide mutual aid.
“The most responsible thing we can do is take a look at this and weigh all of our options,” Szynal said.
Szynal said she would like to hire a paid consultant, which will allow the town to pursue the right option and learn whether it has sufficient facilities for the EMS operation.
While just fact-finding at this point, Szynal said if a decision is reached to have ambulance service provided for the town, she believes Northampton Fire and South County EMS, based in South Deerfield, would be interested.
“This is a very big decision, and I want to make sure we look at it fairly,” Szynal said.
Already there are internal reviews of EMS calls and why some are being missed and what shifts are unfilled. The town used $180,000 in free cash to increase standby pay as an incentive for nighttime response, and to fill shifts, but that is one-time money not built into the budget. Another $35,000 from American Rescue Plan Act funds went toward EMT weekend coverage.
Misinformation has abounded on social media, Szynal said. “People have misunderstood or not followed Select Board discussions,” Szynal said.
What happens is uncertain, but in-house and outside service options will be up to residents to make the choice. “Ultimately townspeople need all the facts to make an informed decision,” Szynal said.
Board member Ed Jaworski said the town will have to decide if it wants full-time service, or continues in the existing format which there can be a long wait for a response from out of town. “Eventually the town will decide and here’s all the numbers,” Jaworski said.
“We need to know what that looks like and what are the costs,” Szynal said. “There’s going to be a lot to be discussed in that.”
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
