Source: Daily Hampshire Gazette (Northampton, MA)
By SEAN REAGAN Staff Writer
GOSHEN, MA – As the new year begins, the staff, volunteers and Board of Directors of Highland Ambulance are, for the first time in nearly six months, taking a deep breath and a long look at what the past year has brought.
And while they don’t dispute there’s a lot of hard work ahead, they like what they see.
”It’s been an interesting experience, starting up a company from scratch,” said Williamsburg resident Christopher ”Kit” Smith, who is president of the Board of Directors. ”We’re fortunate to have a very positive group of people working on it. Everybody tries to pitch in.”
The need for regional ambulance service became obvious, said Smith, when the demographics of the individual towns made it virtually impossible to staff volunteer ambulances around the clock. The resultant delay in response times motivated the towns to find a common solution.
Last summer, Highland Ambulance signed a management agreement and now provides ambulance service to six towns: Ashfield, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Plainfield and Williamsburg. It is a service area that spans some 152 square miles and serves approximately 8,000 people.
”Regional service solves one problem but the territory that you have to serve creates another problem,” said Smith. ”Trying to reach everybody in the remote parts of each town is a constant struggle.”
Highland Ambulance maintains three vehicles – two stationed in Goshen and one in Ashfield. Thirty-six Emergency Medical Technicians, including five paramedics, are currently filling the schedule to provide round-the-clock coverage.
”It’s been a demanding six months,” said Service Director Michael Rock. ”But I thought it would be tougher than it was. Everyone has been so cooperative in helping us get set up.”
Highland Ambulance has worked closely with the state Office of Emergency Medical Services to ensure a timely licensure process. Rock said he expects the company will be approved later this winter. At that point, the company will be able to increase its public outreach efforts both in terms of education and fund-raising.
Rock said that notwithstanding the positive response of area EMTs, the need to continue recruiting new volunteers is ongoing. While his current goal is to focus on retention of current staff, he is already brainstorming ways to reach out to young people in the service area in an effort to bring them on board.
”You have to take a proactive approach to attract the younger generations,” said Rock. ”Any little bit helps. Everybody fills in somewhere.”
Fund-raising to fill the gap costs and revenues generated via town assessments and payments for services will also assume a greater role.
Smith said the fiscal 2005 budget was approximately $220,000 with town assessments making up 40 percent of that figure. Fixed costs such as insurance, as well as a desire to increase funds to hire part-time staff, will probably lead to a significant increase in the fiscal 2006 budget.
”We’re mindful of where the towns are at with their own budgets,” said Smith, who also serves on Williamsburg’s Finance Committee.
In both instances, the company hopes to become actively involved in community affairs. Rock said hosting blood pressure clinics, distributing brochures, and offering presentations to business and civic groups are all potential ways to communicate with residents in the company’s service area.
Long-term goals of the company include relocating to its own quarters. Currently it is housed in the Goshen Fire Department’s training space. Smith said the company needs to develop a capital plan that will allow it eventually to get its own facilities and maintain its three vehicles.
Still, notwithstanding the road ahead, Rock said that the proof of the young organization’s effectiveness lies in its performance. The lack of daytime service – when most volunteers were working and thus unable to respond to calls – has been virtually been eliminated, he said.
”Our response times have improved dramatically,” he said. ”We’ve significantly decreased the number of times we’ve had to call for backup from outside our service area. That’s a sign that the new system is working.”