Milford broadens search for its EMS service provider

An article by Kirk Pinho    1 Comment

Milford Township has decided to expand its search for a township ambulance service provider to include other providers in Oakland County.

“We’re still investigating and we’re now getting information from Oakland County Medical,” said Township Supervisor Don Green. “We’re asking for input on our (request for proposal) and we’re getting a list of ambulance service providers throughout the county that are licensed and qualified. The best case scenario is to have someone in a nearby neighborhood or community as your provider.”

Green added that “everyone” is in the running and that the township hopes to have an RFP drafted before the township Board of Trustees’ next meeting, which is scheduled for Oct. 19.

The township originally was considering the ambulance services of just three providers — Community EMS, Star EMS, and Huron Valley Ambulance (HVA).

The board approved a plan in January to have Milford’s firefighters resume basic life support (BLS) transport for less-than-seriously injured patients after the program had been temporarily halted.

HVA is based in Ann Arbor and has a Milford branch, where its workers respond to the same emergencies as Milford’s firefighters. It offers both BLS and advanced life support (ALS) care and transport.

HVA representatives previously gave indications that the company would pull its services out of Milford if the firefighters took over BLS transport services because HVA was operating at a loss.

Township Treasurer Cynthia Dagenhardt has previously said that Community EMS, based in Southfield, has indicated that it is willing to locate a truck in Milford should HVA depart.

Star EMS is based in Pontiac.

Green has argued against firefighters providing BLS transport, saying that it conflicts with township policy and amounts to the township competing with the private sector.