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Milford may allow firefighters to do medical transport
The Milford Fire Department has been given approval by Milford Township to handle Basic Life Support (BLS) transport duties for less-than-seriously-injured patients, but the township is awaiting a response from Huron Valley Ambulance (HVA) regarding the matter.
The Milford Township Board of Trustees approved a plan last month to have Milford’s firefighters resume BLS transport for patients, after the program was temporarily halted.
However, Supervisor Don Green said that HVA representatives are scheduled to appear at the township board’s Wednesday, Feb. 16 meeting and that he is still investigating the matter.
HVA, which has a Milford branch, responds to the same emergencies as Milford’s firefighters and offers both BLS and Advanced Life Support (ALS) care and transport.
Milford Fire Chief Larry Waligora said his department has two transport vehicles and that the department has been a licensed BLS transport agency since 2003.
“We want to do more transport and generate revenue for the fire department to help maintain equipment and training costs,” Waligora said. “We have treated patients on fire scenes on more than one occasion. On a medical call, if we feel that only BLS is necessary, then we will call off an ambulance and do the procedure.”
Green was the only member of the township board who voted last month against resumption of BLS services, saying that the township shouldn’t compete with the private sector and that it conflicts with township policy, where firefighters only provide BLS transport if an ambulance is not available.
Township Treasurer Cynthia Dagenhardt said that based on the numbers and run calculations provided, the fire department stands to generate around $130,000 a year by billing patients’ insurance companies for transport services.
She added that the BLS transport plan is not a ploy for the fire department personnel to become full-time employees.
Waligora said that if HVA was to leave Milford, he has spoken to other ambulance agencies, including STAR and Community EMS, and that both agencies will support the department.
The township will also look into a BLS medical billing setup for insurance companies.
6 Responses to Milford may allow firefighters to do medical transport
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Rick
February 9, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Don’t fall for it Milford, For one it’s amazing that government can decide go into business and put a private company out of business? It’s just wrong. You are going to then pay in tax’s and then pay again if you need an ambualnce. The revenue generated is not worth it and it wont reduce your millage. Another reason not to do it is private EMS services provide far better care than municipalities. Think about it, your fireman work 9 days a month, work the ambulance maybe 5 days a month , small communities have very few calls, but lets say 5 EMS runs per month per medic equals very little experience providing emergency services. Private EMS crews work 3-4 days a week, pull 5-15 runs per day, I know who I want to take care of me in an EMERGENCY. Next they will be asking for more taxes to buy more uneeded ambulances, and then they will want to become Avanced Life Support, More training,equipment, malpractice insurance! and Tax’s for a less effective more expensive service. They will play on your emotions on how you need it, but fiscally and morally it’s wrong.
Tim
February 9, 2011 at 10:40 pm
1. I work private EMS I have no idea where you get that we get 5-15 calls a day. There are days we get none. Most of our calls are hospital transports to either to another hospital or to a home. So they have already received care.
2. Since working in the private sector more and more fire departments are doing this now. Most people that work private EMS work on area fire departments to keep their skills up.
3. Either way you will have to pay for the ride to the hospital (more to a private). Then the private will send you to collections if you don’t pay. Where the fire departments will not and show it paid in full. Wouldn’t you want the money to stay in the community.
Rick
February 13, 2011 at 4:25 am
Maybe the township should open a gas station, barbershop and grocery store, get rid of the private sector, local governments should be generating revenue wherever possible! Bill’em and tax’em.
Big Daddy
February 15, 2011 at 8:25 pm
If you are only doing hospital transfers then you need to change companies and get some experience. By the way, in case you didn’t know, paid on call departments are mfr or bls so what experience are you refering to. Jack Wagon.
Medical transport Florida
July 7, 2011 at 3:26 am
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Brad
November 5, 2012 at 10:55 pm
Private EMS is they way to go if you want good quality ALS paramedic level care. These professionals see very sick critical care type interfaciltiy transports as well as emergency scene responses on a daily basis as opposed to having paid on call firefighters who are EMT basics (not to be confused with private paramedics who have drugs, airway management capability and ECG monitoring) transport our citizens