Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ambulance service reports drop in calls, seeks $600,000 grant to replace equipment
Summary
Newport-area ambulance representatives told the Eden Select Board that call volume and revenue dipped this year; they described new billing software, staffing plans and a pending $600,000 grant application to replace cardiac monitors across the fleet.
The town heard an extended report from the ambulance representative about a decline in call volume and the service’s efforts to stabilize finances. The presenter said call volume for the local squad was down about 125 calls year-to-date compared with the previous year and that the drop represented “a little over a $100,000 in income.” He said the service has negotiated a transport contract with Copley Hospital and has invested in new billing software to capture secondary insurance, which is already producing additional income.
The presenter described cost-control steps and a pending equipment grant: “We have just applied for a $600,000 grant … which would pay for those new machines and all 10 of our ambulances,” he said, referring to ZOLL cardiac monitors that he estimated cost about $60,000 apiece. He also told the board the service is evaluating hiring two additional employees to reduce overtime and exploring profitable long-distance transports through UVM to improve revenue. The board asked for supporting budget materials and a town-level breakdown of call volume; the presenter said he would provide the three-column budget and per-town call counts at year-end. The matter is informational; no formal action was taken by the board.
