Medibart

First some background info about the 45 Medic system and Westchester EMS in general. Westchester EMS is a not for profit organization and is part of the Stellaris Health Network which includes Lawrence Hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital, Phelps Memorial Hospital and White Plains Hospital. The 45 Medic program is a single consortium type contract with the 8 townships of Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Pound Ridge and Somers. We generally have a meeting with representatives of all 8 towns on a quarterly basis. At those meetings we supply a huge amount of data, including response times, extended response times and times we were not available. Because of that, the town leaders are some of the most informed politicians in regards to EMS. They vote on a number of things, including the budget. The budget is audited every year and WEMS and Stellaris make no profit on it. The coverage area is 191 square miles (roughly 42% of the county) and 98,500 people (second largest population covered after City of Yonkers). Last year we responded to 4757 calls. This year call volume is running about 5% higher than last. We operate 3 single medic fly cars 24/7. We can add up to 3 more ALS units including supervisors and ALS ambulances). We've definitely had 5 medics running at once on a few occasions. I don't think we've had 6 out yet. This really is a unique example of a regional solution to EMS. I don't know of any other consortiums of this size in our area. RPS's contracts are with each town with the exception of North Rockland where 2 towns share one truck.
For the first two quarters of 2011 response times averaged 8 minutes. Obviously this is a average and some response times are much longer given the distances involved. This average has held up for the last 6 years or so, even as the volume has increased by 17%. Mutual aid was called for 3 calls (0.1% of total volume), only 1 of which went ALS. The 45 Medics were dispatched 20 times mutual aid to other areas. Vista does use the Norwalk medics whenever 45M3 is on a call rather than having 45M1 or 2 respond from their areas. Given the size of the area, I'd say that the system is working pretty well.
Different 4th medic scenarios have been presented to the towns. Obviously with any decision like that, cost is a factor. Personally, I think tiered systems provide the best coverage for the money. BLS first resonders, whether FD, PD or VAC, are really the key in my eyes for a good EMS system. More medics is the most expensive solution and per medic call volume becomes an issue, I think, if you want to keep their skills up. Obviously this is the problem that every rural(ish) emergency service faces. Low call volume along with large area is always problematic to deal with.
At the end of the day it is up to the towns, with input from their own emergency services to decide when a 4th medic is the best solution.
I'm happy to answer any other questions about the system or Westchester EMS in general.
Scott T. Glaessgen
Paramedic Supervisor
Westchester EMS

First some background info about the 45 Medic system and Westchester EMS in general. Westchester EMS is a not for profit organization and is part of the Stellaris Health Network which includes Lawrence Hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital, Phelps Memorial Hospital and White Plains Hospital. The 45 Medic program is a single consortium type contract with the 8 townships of Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Pound Ridge and Somers. We generally have a meeting with representatives of all 8 towns on a quarterly basis. At those meetings we supply a huge amount of data, including response times, extended response times and times we were not available. Because of that, the town leaders are some of the most informed politicians in regards to EMS. They vote on a number of things, including the budget. The budget is audited every year and WEMS and Stellaris make no profit on it. The coverage area is 191 square miles (roughly 42% of the county) and 98,500 people (second largest population covered after City of Yonkers). Last year we responded to 4757 calls. This year call volume is running about 5% higher than last. We operate 3 single medic fly cars 24/7. We can add up to 3 more ALS units including supervisors and ALS ambulances). We've definitely had 5 medics running at once on a few occasions. I don't think we've had 6 out yet. This really is a unique example of a regional solution to EMS. I don't know of any other consortiums of this size in our area. RPS's contracts are with each town with the exception of North Rockland where 2 towns share one truck.
For the first two quarters of 2011 response times averaged 8 minutes. Obviously this is a average and some response times are much longer given the distances involved. This average has held up for the last 6 years or so, even as the volume has increased by 17%. Mutual aid was called for 3 calls (0.1% of total volume), only 1 of which went ALS. The 45 Medics were dispatched 20 times mutual aid to other areas. Vista does use the Norwalk medics whenever 45M3 is on a call rather than having 45M1 or 2 respond from their areas. Given the size of the area, I'd say that the system is working pretty well.
Different 4th medic scenarios have been presented to the towns. Obviously with any decision like that, cost is a factor. Personally, I think tiered systems provide the best coverage for the money. BLS first resonders, whether FD, PD or VAC, are really the key in my eyes for a good EMS system. More medics is the most expensive solution and per medic call volume becomes an issue, I think, if you want to keep their skills up. Obviously this is the problem that every rural(ish) emergency service faces. Low call volume along with large area is always problematic to deal with.
At the end of the day it is up to the towns, with input from their own emergency services to decide when a 4th medic is the best solution.
I'm happy to answer any other questions about the system or Westchester EMS in general.
Scott T. Glaessgen
Paramedic Supervisor
Westchester EMS

First some background info about the 45 Medic system and Westchester EMS in general. Westchester EMS is a not for profit organization and is part of the Stellaris Health Network which includes Lawrence Hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital, Phelps Memorial Hospital and White Plains Hospital. The 45 Medic program is a single consortium type contract with the 8 townships of Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Pound Ridge and Somers. We generally have a meeting with representatives of all 8 towns on a quarterly basis. At those meetings we supply a huge amount of data, including response times, extended response times and times we were not available. Because of that, the town leaders are some of the most informed politicians in regards to EMS. They vote on a number of things, including the budget. The budget is audited every year and WEMS and Stellaris make no profit on it. The coverage area is 191 square miles (roughly 42% of the county) and 98,500 people (second largest population covered after City of Yonkers). Last year we responded to 4757 calls. This year call volume is running about 5% higher than last. We operate 3 single medic fly cars 24/7. We can add up to 3 more ALS units including supervisors and ALS ambulances). We've definitely had 5 medics running at once on a few occasions. I don't think we've had 6 out yet. This really is a unique example of a regional solution to EMS. I don't know of any other consortiums of this size in our area. RPS's contracts are with each town with the exception of North Rockland where 2 towns share one truck.
For the first two quarters of 2011 response times averaged 8 minutes. Obviously this is a average and some response times are much longer given the distances involved. This average has held up for the last 6 years or so, even as the volume has increased by 17%. Mutual aid was called for 3 calls (0.1% of total volume), only 1 of which went ALS. The 45 Medics were dispatched 20 times mutual aid to other areas. Vista does use the Norwalk medics whenever 45M3 is on a call rather than having 45M1 or 2 respond from their areas. Given the size of the area, I'd say that the system is working pretty well.
Different 4th medic scenarios have been presented to the towns. Obviously with any decision like that, cost is a factor. Personally, I think tiered systems provide the best coverage for the money. BLS first resonders, whether FD, PD or VAC, are really the key in my eyes for a good EMS system. More medics is the most expensive solution and per medic call volume becomes an issue, I think, if you want to keep their skills up. Obviously this is the problem that every rural(ish) emergency service faces. Low call volume along with large area is always problematic to deal with.
At the end of the day it is up to the towns, with input from their own emergency services to decide when a 4th medic is the best solution.
I'm happy to answer any other questions about the system or Westchester EMS in general.
Scott T. Glaessgen
Paramedic Supervisor
Westchester EMS

First some background info about the 45 Medic system and Westchester EMS in general. Westchester EMS is a not for profit organization and is part of the Stellaris Health Network which includes Lawrence Hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital, Phelps Memorial Hospital and White Plains Hospital. The 45 Medic program is a single consortium type contract with the 8 townships of Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Pound Ridge and Somers. We generally have a meeting with representatives of all 8 towns on a quarterly basis. At those meetings we supply a huge amount of data, including response times, extended response times and times we were not available. Because of that, the town leaders are some of the most informed politicians in regards to EMS. They vote on a number of things, including the budget. The budget is audited every year and WEMS and Stellaris make no profit on it. The coverage area is 191 square miles (roughly 42% of the county) and 98,500 people (second largest population covered after City of Yonkers). Last year we responded to 4757 calls. This year call volume is running about 5% higher than last. We operate 3 single medic fly cars 24/7. We can add up to 3 more ALS units including supervisors and ALS ambulances). We've definitely had 5 medics running at once on a few occasions. I don't think we've had 6 out yet. This really is a unique example of a regional solution to EMS. I don't know of any other consortiums of this size in our area. RPS's contracts are with each town with the exception of North Rockland where 2 towns share one truck.
For the first two quarters of 2011 response times averaged 8 minutes. Obviously this is a average and some response times are much longer given the distances involved. This average has held up for the last 6 years or so, even as the volume has increased by 17%. Mutual aid was called for 3 calls (0.1% of total volume), only 1 of which went ALS. The 45 Medics were dispatched 20 times mutual aid to other areas. Vista does use the Norwalk medics whenever 45M3 is on a call rather than having 45M1 or 2 respond from their areas. Given the size of the area, I'd say that the system is working pretty well.
Different 4th medic scenarios have been presented to the towns. Obviously with any decision like that, cost is a factor. Personally, I think tiered systems provide the best coverage for the money. BLS first resonders, whether FD, PD or VAC, are really the key in my eyes for a good EMS system. More medics is the most expensive solution and per medic call volume becomes an issue, I think, if you want to keep their skills up. Obviously this is the problem that every rural(ish) emergency service faces. Low call volume along with large area is always problematic to deal with.
At the end of the day it is up to the towns, with input from their own emergency services to decide when a 4th medic is the best solution.
I'm happy to answer any other questions about the system or Westchester EMS in general.
Scott T. Glaessgen
Paramedic Supervisor
Westchester EMS