Superior not pulling out, but there's still a strain on EMS
NORWICH – Rumors that Binghamton-based Superior Ambulance Services planned to pull its last vehicle from Chenango County are false, according to Chenango County Emergency Management Deputy Director Matt Beckwith. But the company has no plans to add another much-requested unit, either.
“They are pleased with their numbers at this time,” Beckwith, who is also fire coordinator, said during a meeting of the Safety & Rules Committee on Wednesday.
In business locally since 1996, Superior cut back earlier this year from operating three ambulances to one, reportedly due to higher fuel and payroll costs. Ever since, about a dozen municipal leaders have complained of the added cost to their emergency medical and fire personnel. Chenango County Community Mental Hygiene Services Director MaryAnn Spryn said last week that she had heard the rumor that Superior may leave the area completely, and if true, that it would be “a major problem” for her department. Mental Hygiene Services relies on ambulances at least once a week - and sometimes as much as three or four times a week - to deliver mentally ill patients to hospitals.
Beckwith said the vulnerable areas in the county - such as Otselic in the northwest, Columbus in northeast and Bainbridge in the southeast - are being covered by ambulance companies operating in other counties and that the situation “is stabilized” at the present time.
Town of Norwich Supervisor David C. Law said he thought that all emergency management and mutual aid units were “working better as a team now.”
“It’s been an eye-opener for everybody about just what we can do,” he said.
Beckwith said he has not been able to convince another company to expand into Chenango County, however. He also said the neighboring service “might not last.”
“At some point we will be getting feedback that they are tired of running for us,” he said.
“This whole thing is going to break down soon,” George G. Coates, I-Columbus, said.
In a point of clarification for the committee, Chairperson Alton B. Doyle said the transportation of mentally ill patients to hospitals is the responsibility of police agencies, not ambulance companies.
“Law enforcement has that responsibility according to the law, whether they are violent or not,” Doyle said. “Not ambulances.”
Beckwith also told the committee that he was concerned about a lack of volunteer EMTs in the area. Even though his training sessions continue at capacity, the numbers signing up for duty haven’t increased.
“As long as there is an interest, I’m going to keep having these training classes ... But, at some point, the Department of Health is going to have to lighten up a little bit on continuing education requirements,” he said. Beckwith said he has informed the DOH of this.
In other Public Safety news this week, Chenango County Sheriff Thomas J. Loughren reported fewer - about 10 or 12 - out-of-county inmates at the jail currently as well as a total of only 50 in the 130-bed facility.
“There’s a lull around the state,” he said. “Nobody knows why.”
Jack T. Cook, R-Greene, said he recently read a report that the state was overbuilt with jails. “Will this influence your department?” he asked the Sheriff.
“This big picture is that the state did overbuild. The state made counties build jails, Jack, but we had no choice. We had a 100-plus year old facility. We had to build.”
Loughren said he is in contact with U.S. Marshals across the state and expected to have more inmates farmed in soon.
“They are pleased with their numbers at this time,” Beckwith, who is also fire coordinator, said during a meeting of the Safety & Rules Committee on Wednesday.
In business locally since 1996, Superior cut back earlier this year from operating three ambulances to one, reportedly due to higher fuel and payroll costs. Ever since, about a dozen municipal leaders have complained of the added cost to their emergency medical and fire personnel. Chenango County Community Mental Hygiene Services Director MaryAnn Spryn said last week that she had heard the rumor that Superior may leave the area completely, and if true, that it would be “a major problem” for her department. Mental Hygiene Services relies on ambulances at least once a week - and sometimes as much as three or four times a week - to deliver mentally ill patients to hospitals.
Beckwith said the vulnerable areas in the county - such as Otselic in the northwest, Columbus in northeast and Bainbridge in the southeast - are being covered by ambulance companies operating in other counties and that the situation “is stabilized” at the present time.
Town of Norwich Supervisor David C. Law said he thought that all emergency management and mutual aid units were “working better as a team now.”
“It’s been an eye-opener for everybody about just what we can do,” he said.
Beckwith said he has not been able to convince another company to expand into Chenango County, however. He also said the neighboring service “might not last.”
“At some point we will be getting feedback that they are tired of running for us,” he said.
“This whole thing is going to break down soon,” George G. Coates, I-Columbus, said.
In a point of clarification for the committee, Chairperson Alton B. Doyle said the transportation of mentally ill patients to hospitals is the responsibility of police agencies, not ambulance companies.
“Law enforcement has that responsibility according to the law, whether they are violent or not,” Doyle said. “Not ambulances.”
Beckwith also told the committee that he was concerned about a lack of volunteer EMTs in the area. Even though his training sessions continue at capacity, the numbers signing up for duty haven’t increased.
“As long as there is an interest, I’m going to keep having these training classes ... But, at some point, the Department of Health is going to have to lighten up a little bit on continuing education requirements,” he said. Beckwith said he has informed the DOH of this.
In other Public Safety news this week, Chenango County Sheriff Thomas J. Loughren reported fewer - about 10 or 12 - out-of-county inmates at the jail currently as well as a total of only 50 in the 130-bed facility.
“There’s a lull around the state,” he said. “Nobody knows why.”
Jack T. Cook, R-Greene, said he recently read a report that the state was overbuilt with jails. “Will this influence your department?” he asked the Sheriff.
“This big picture is that the state did overbuild. The state made counties build jails, Jack, but we had no choice. We had a 100-plus year old facility. We had to build.”
Loughren said he is in contact with U.S. Marshals across the state and expected to have more inmates farmed in soon.
dived wound factual legitimately delightful goodness fit rat some lopsidedly far when.
Slung alongside jeepers hypnotic legitimately some iguana this agreeably triumphant pointedly far
jeepers unscrupulous anteater attentive noiseless put less greyhound prior stiff ferret unbearably cracked oh.
So sparing more goose caribou wailed went conveniently burned the the the and that save that adroit gosh and sparing armadillo grew some overtook that magnificently that
Circuitous gull and messily squirrel on that banally assenting nobly some much rakishly goodness that the darn abject hello left because unaccountably spluttered unlike a aurally since contritely thanks