WARSAW — Wyoming County’s new ambulance service will be very similar to what Monroe Ambulance provides.
The county’s Board of Supervisors voted last Tuesday to create the new service as its Monroe Ambulance contract winds down. The latter is terminating its service with Wyoming County, citing staffing issues, low reimbursement and inefficiencies stemming from the county’s distance from Rochester.
The new service will become operational before the Monroe Ambulance contract expires Dec. 14, to allow for staff orientation and similar preparations.
It will provide a round-the-clock ambulance based at Wyoming County Community Hospital, said Director Brian Meyers of Wyoming County Emergency Management. A second unit will be stationed 16 hours daily in Sheldon.
The county’s new EMS Operations coordinator will also work on the ambulances and will have the ability to respond in a paramedic fly car as needed, Meyers said. But the job will largely involve managing the service’s day-to-day operations.
“When the coordinator isn’t on the ambulance, and their schedule allows, they can supplement the ambulances to run as a fly car and ride along with the fire departments to provide that advanced level of care,” he said.
It’s still uncertain how many people will staff the Wyoming County service, Meyers said. The county is accepting applications for a variety of full time, part-time, and per diem positions.
“Once the application period is over and we conduct interviews, we will see what adjustments we need to make to available positions based on candidates’ interest in full time and part time,” he said. “There are a number of current part-time employees in the Monroe operation that work near full time hours. General rule of thumb is the equivalent of eight full time employees for a 24/7 operation.”
The new service will supplement the numerous volunteer rescue squads located throughout the county.
“This is a similar model to Monroe, with the added ability to operate a fly car with the Operations Coordinator,” Myers said. “Our volunteer departments play an important role in the day-to-day operations of emergency services and would be detrimental if they did not exist. This system supplements in the event they are unable to secure a crew or provides the paramedic level services when needed.