CMT makes its pitch
NORWICH – Touting experience, highly trained paramedics and state-of-the-art equipment, Cooperstown Medical Transport (CMT) is in a “very strong position” to become the next commercial ambulance provider in Chenango County, a co-owner of the company told the county’s full Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
CMT is still awaiting approval from the state Department of Health to expand its operating license into the county, but co-owner and Chief Financial Officer Margaret McGown says the private ambulance is planning as if it will be granted full-time status in Chenango.
“I believe that CMT is in a very strong position to become the commercial ambulance service provider in Chenango County,” McGown said, addressing the board at its monthly meeting Tuesday. “We look forward to working with the EMS providers in this county, and hope that we will soon have certification from the New York state Department of Health to be allowed to start our permanent operation here.”
CMT is seeking a 60-day operating emergency certificate from the health department while it’s under review. That decision could come in next few days or weeks.
If permanently approved in Albany, which could take at least three months, CMT intends to operate at least one 24-hour crew in Chenango County to start. Once up and running, the company plans to increase ambulance numbers during daytime hours, McGown said.
County emergency officials expect CMT to pick-up the majority of the county’s hospital-to-hospital patient transports, which was Superior Ambulances role before it shut down its ambulances in Chenango last month. McGown claimed the company will take on whatever calls its dispatched to do, pointing out that 63 percent of CMT’s 375 calls per month in Delaware and Otsego counties are to 911 emergencies and the rest are for transports.
“Will you respond to 911 calls in any part of the county?” Pharsalia Supervisor Dennis Brown asked McGown. “Or will you pick and choose which ones you take?”
“If we have a ‘Certificate of Need’ to operate in Chenango County,” McGown responded, “I don’t think we’re allowed to pick and choose where we’ll go.”
CMT is expected to offset the loss of Binghamton-based Superior Inc., which handled between 2,000 and 3,000 calls per year before cutting back its operations in Chenango County over the last nine months, eventually pulling out its last ambulance Oct. 25.
Believing a full replacement for Superior wasn’t feasible due to a lack of profitable calls, area fire and EMS coordinator proposed the county implement what’s called a “fly car” system, where a county-employed paramedics would drive to emergency scenes and staff volunteer ambulances. The fly car’s supporters say it would increase coverage in outlying volunteer districts where there are not enough paramedics to answer calls.
The fly car proposal was tabled at last month’s county Finance Committee meeting so supervisors could here McGown’s presentation before voting on whether or not to create funding for the plan. Finance Committee Chairman Lawrence Wilcox expects that the fly car will be brought up again for discussion, but says there will have to be serious consideration about the financial logistics of the plan, and the necessity of it if CMT moves in.
“Something that needs to be considered is the reimbursement potentials,” he said.
Under New York state law, it is complicated to derive how and when emergency services can get paid for taking calls.
Wilcox supports CMT’s endeavor, and says bringing in a private providers to answer the ambulance shortage seem more efficient than government taking over such duties.
“It’s a win-win for everyone. It makes more sense,” he said. “When Superior was running two and three ambulances in districts that didn’t have their own services, people in that area say it was the best coverage they ever had.”
When asked if private ambulances were less secure and more apt to leave, like Superior, because they depend on profits, Wilcox said, “That’s a situation where we’ll have to cross that bridge when we get there, if we get there.”
“In the meantime, CMT, if approved today, could be here tomorrow. That’s important to consider to,” he added, saying a private provider also creates jobs and increases the tax base.
CMT is still awaiting approval from the state Department of Health to expand its operating license into the county, but co-owner and Chief Financial Officer Margaret McGown says the private ambulance is planning as if it will be granted full-time status in Chenango.
“I believe that CMT is in a very strong position to become the commercial ambulance service provider in Chenango County,” McGown said, addressing the board at its monthly meeting Tuesday. “We look forward to working with the EMS providers in this county, and hope that we will soon have certification from the New York state Department of Health to be allowed to start our permanent operation here.”
CMT is seeking a 60-day operating emergency certificate from the health department while it’s under review. That decision could come in next few days or weeks.
If permanently approved in Albany, which could take at least three months, CMT intends to operate at least one 24-hour crew in Chenango County to start. Once up and running, the company plans to increase ambulance numbers during daytime hours, McGown said.
County emergency officials expect CMT to pick-up the majority of the county’s hospital-to-hospital patient transports, which was Superior Ambulances role before it shut down its ambulances in Chenango last month. McGown claimed the company will take on whatever calls its dispatched to do, pointing out that 63 percent of CMT’s 375 calls per month in Delaware and Otsego counties are to 911 emergencies and the rest are for transports.
“Will you respond to 911 calls in any part of the county?” Pharsalia Supervisor Dennis Brown asked McGown. “Or will you pick and choose which ones you take?”
“If we have a ‘Certificate of Need’ to operate in Chenango County,” McGown responded, “I don’t think we’re allowed to pick and choose where we’ll go.”
CMT is expected to offset the loss of Binghamton-based Superior Inc., which handled between 2,000 and 3,000 calls per year before cutting back its operations in Chenango County over the last nine months, eventually pulling out its last ambulance Oct. 25.
Believing a full replacement for Superior wasn’t feasible due to a lack of profitable calls, area fire and EMS coordinator proposed the county implement what’s called a “fly car” system, where a county-employed paramedics would drive to emergency scenes and staff volunteer ambulances. The fly car’s supporters say it would increase coverage in outlying volunteer districts where there are not enough paramedics to answer calls.
The fly car proposal was tabled at last month’s county Finance Committee meeting so supervisors could here McGown’s presentation before voting on whether or not to create funding for the plan. Finance Committee Chairman Lawrence Wilcox expects that the fly car will be brought up again for discussion, but says there will have to be serious consideration about the financial logistics of the plan, and the necessity of it if CMT moves in.
“Something that needs to be considered is the reimbursement potentials,” he said.
Under New York state law, it is complicated to derive how and when emergency services can get paid for taking calls.
Wilcox supports CMT’s endeavor, and says bringing in a private providers to answer the ambulance shortage seem more efficient than government taking over such duties.
“It’s a win-win for everyone. It makes more sense,” he said. “When Superior was running two and three ambulances in districts that didn’t have their own services, people in that area say it was the best coverage they ever had.”
When asked if private ambulances were less secure and more apt to leave, like Superior, because they depend on profits, Wilcox said, “That’s a situation where we’ll have to cross that bridge when we get there, if we get there.”
“In the meantime, CMT, if approved today, could be here tomorrow. That’s important to consider to,” he added, saying a private provider also creates jobs and increases the tax base.
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