CHENANGO COUNTY – Cooperstown Medical Transport (CMT), a private commercial ambulance service based in Otsego and Delaware counties, has been temporarily approved by the state to take emergency calls in Chenango.
CMT was issued what’s called an emergency “Certificate of Need” – a permit all emergency services providers must have in order to legally operate in a certain jurisdiction – Friday by the state Department of Health. The company will be placing an ambulance in the Norwich area immediately, a spokeswoman said Monday.
“We’re going to post (be in service) as much as we can this week,” said CMT co-owner and Chief Financial Officer Margaret McGown, explaining that the crew may not be in-service 24 hours a day for the next five and half days. “By Monday we’ll have a scheduled crew in Chenango County. We expect to have them be there twenty-four seven.”
The 24-hour crew will consist of one advanced life support paramedic and one basic life support paramedic, McGown said.
Until a permanent location is bought or rented in the next few weeks, CMT’s ambulance will most likely be stationed at spots like Chenango Memorial Hospital or the City of Norwich Fire Department.
“We’re looking for a place to call home,” McGown said, although she would not elaborate on potential sites.
McGown said she plans to meet with officials at the county emergency center Monday to discuss the protocol regarding how CMT will be dispatched to take calls.
She added that if the Chenango ambulance leaves the county on an emergency or transport call, another will be sent from Oneonta or Sidney to replace it.
The temporary permit will last until CMT’s request for a permanent “Certificate of Need” in Chenango County is either granted or revoked by the health department. That decision could take at least three months, according to state guidelines.
As part of the state review process, the Susquehanna Regional EMS Council of Binghamton is holding a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at the Howard Johnson’s in Norwich to take comments for and against CMT expanding its operation into the county.
Just over three weeks ago, Superior Ambulance, a private provider out of Binghamton, closed its command center and stopped taking calls in Chenango after months of what it claims was unprofitable business. Superior had covered the majority of ambulance calls in several volunteer fire districts that currently lack available paramedics.
The loss of the Superior highlighted what many say is a severe volunteer EMS shortage in Chenango County and left other departments, like the City of Norwich, to handle an excess of calls outside their coverage areas.
County Fire and Emergency Coordinator Matt Beckwith said the temporary go-ahead for CMT “is a good thing” toward filling the county’s ongoing ambulance shortage.
“The Department of Health was aware of our need and issued the emergency certificate,” Beckwith said. “It’s a good thing.”
He expects that the health department will grant permanent approval.
Senator Charles Schumer was in Binghamton Monday to introduce a bill he’s sponsored that would amend the Social Security Act to provide an additional 5 percent increase in Medicare payments to ambulance providers.