CHENANGO COUNTY – Two area fire and EMS volunteers say they see a need and an opportunity amidst the county’s ongoing ambulance shortage and have plans to start up a private emergency service in Norwich by January.
Still in the development stages, Georgetown residents James and Larinda Cross, volunteers with the South Otselic Volunteer Fire Department, are looking to initially provide two ambulances – a 24-hour and 16-hour on-call – and employ around 18 full-time and part-time EMTs.
“There is a need in Chenango County,” said Larinda, whose husband James has been the fire chief in South Otselic for the past five years. “And we want to provide the citizens of Chenango County with a reliable and professional ambulance service.”
The need for 24-hour-guaranteed ambulances became a problem in January when Superior Ambulance Inc., headquartered in Broome County, cut back its services by two thirds. Citing a lack of profitable business, Superior stopped taking calls in Chenango County all together last month.
To offset the loss of Superior, area emergency officials and lawmakers are considering creating a county-run emergency service, but have stalled those discussions in favor of recruiting a private ambulance company based out of Cooperstown.
Cross Ambulance expects to handle 3,000 emergency calls a year, and believes it can be successful where Superior was not because it’s a locally owned and operated business.
“Superior was a large company stationed in another county,” said Larinda. “We’re small and we’ll operate locally. We won’t have as much overhead.”
Superior covered the majority of calls in a number of outlying townships that lack or don’t have adequate volunteer EMS options. Larinda said Cross Ambulance would also be county-wide.
After is was widely believed no other private ambulance would do business in the county once Superior left, Preston Supervisor Peter Flanagan is happy to see Cross and Cooperstown Medical Transport showing interest.
“It’s more viable that two private companies fill our ambulance gap rather than create another county department,” said Flanagan. “I think a private service is a better solution.”
Flanagan has doubts about a county-operated system, especially the one proposed by county Fire Coordinator Matt Beckwith, which would have taxpayer funded EMT’s staffing volunteer ambulances 60 hours a week during peak times of need.
“It’s a part-time solution to a full-time problem,” Flanagan said, referring to what’s called the “fly car” system.
County Supervisors Chairman Richard Decker agrees that the best solution to the ambulance shortage should come from the private sector.
“A private provider can come in and run an operation a lot more efficiently than the government ever thought of being,” said Decker.
Decker supports any effort Cross Ambulance makes to service the area, but says the county is immediately pursuing Cooperstown Medical Transport.
“Cross is a start-up and it may take them a while to get up and running. We have to move forward at this point with what’s available now, and we’re hoping to see CMT pick-up where Superior left off,” said Decker. “They (Cooperstown) are willing to take a look at it.”
Margaret McGown, CMT’s chief financial officer, will be making a presentation to the full Board of Supervisors Tuesday, Nov. 13.
“I’d like the board to hear what she has to say,” Decker said. “ And discuss all our options after.”
Cooperstown has been assisting since Superior left, and is planning to bring one ambulance into Chenango County full-time, saying that if business is good, it could expand.
The Crosses officially incorporated their business, Cross Ambulance Service, as of Oct. 9, but have yet to purchase ambulances or receive state approval to operate in the county.
Larinda says the financing and permit, if approved, should come in time to start taking 911 calls sometime in January. The couple is currently scouting a location, and hopes to take over Superior’s garage on East River Road.