FARMINGTON — NorthStar has pulled one of its two ambulances from here on Sundays and Wednesdays because of fewer emergency calls those days.
The move will save the service an estimated $100,000 a year at a time when its income is down $250,000, NorthStar Emergency Medical Services Director David Robie told selectmen Tuesday.
The number of calls for NorthStar, which covers Franklin County, has dropped about 17 percent in the last six months, he said, with Farmington, West Farmington, Wilton, Temple and New Sharon making up about 81 percent of that 17 percent.
“There was a higher volume in January of this year but then it fell off the cliff,” Robie said.
Less snow, fewer tourists and fewer cases of flu are all believed to have contributed to the drop in calls, he said.
The plan to use five instead of six ambulances to cover the county helps avoid layoffs, he said. An ambulance will never be more than 10 to 15 minutes away, he said.
“It’s the best, most fiscally responsible move,” he said. He said NorthStar’s income is down $250,000 from what was budgeted.
Some selectmen weren’t convinced.
“I’m not in favor. I’m your strongest advocate against it,” Selectman Ryan Morgan said. He and Selectman Andrew Hufnagel questioned the annual $47,000 subsidy provided to the service by the town.
The board members suggested that less coverage on those days could mean more expense for the town, with Farmington Fire and Rescue members serving as first responders to emergencies.
Robie said the town may experience the same lack of volume in calls as the ambulance service has on those days.
If the volume increases over the next few months, another ambulance and personnel could be added, he said.
“It will be watched,” he said.
Robie is resigning from NorthStar, effective June 22.
He said he did not want to increase the amount of subsidy requested from the towns, “But when your income is down you have to make adjustments,” he said.
Receiving less service after paying $47,000 may not sit well with residents, Hufnagel said. He questioned the town’s contract with NorthStar.
Board Chairman Stephan Bunker said the contract doesn’t mention a number of vehicles.
The contract says the service will provide coverage to all towns under contract with NorthStar, Robie said, but no specifics on vehicles or personnel are mentioned. Ambulances normally are staffed with one paramedic and one EMT.
Limiting the number of vehicles to one for those two days is expected to save $100,000 per year, he said. Providing an ambulance seven days a week for a year costs an estimated $425,000, he said.
When asked about transferring patients from FMH to other hospitals, Robie said it would depend on the transfer. An emergency would be handled by the Farmington ambulance, with other NorthStar ambulances in Phillips and Livermore Falls providing backup. If it’s not an emergency, the transfer could be delayed or another ambulance provider such as MedCare based in Mexico could make the transfer.
The NorthStar Advisory Board recently was informed of the plan. Town Manager Richard Davis and Fire Chief Terry Bell represent Farmington on the board, which is only advisory.
Pulling an ambulance from Farmington two days a week is how NorthStar is choosing to fiscally address the issue, Davis said.
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