Farmington Information
February 11, 2005, letter from Town of Farmington to FCHN, requesting clarification of coverage issues.
"As you know, the Selectmen have serious concerns with the proposed NorthStar EMS Participation Agreement."
February 16, 2005, letter from FCHN to Town of Farmington explaining coverage and level of service.
"Franklin Memorial Hospital too, no less than the Board of Selectmen, is committed to meeting the needs of the citizens of Farmington by continuing a quality paramedic centered service."
"More specifically, the Board of Selectmen has an 11-year history of us developing LifeStar to judge that we build and maintain a quality EMS service."
"Consider what Farmington’s EMS service looked like before FMH became involved: how it was staffed, how it was equipped, how it operated, and what Farmington had to pay 11 years ago when it operated out of a very small building owned by Mr. Stan Kuklinski behind the former carwash across the street from the hospital. Look at LifeStar now! It is a fabulously better service in every respect: more equipment, a better and much larger facility, more staffing, more paramedics on duty, more ambulances, more backup personnel on standby, more professionalism, better training, an added part time Medical Director, computerized systems, expanded quality assurance programs and the cost to Farmington taxpayers is about 1/3 of what it was 11 years ago."
"We have committed in writing to maintaining at least one paramedic unit on duty nights and two paramedics on days. We presently overall staff above that standard."
"It will be reassuring to the Board of Selectmen and Farmington citizens to know how we provide backup."
"Another level of backup also exists."
"Farmington has a direct vested interest in seeing that our efforts to create a viable regional EMS service are successful."
"If Farmington wants dedicated paramedic coverage the cost to the Town of Farmington will be $175,000 per year to have one paramedic on duty 24-7 to respond to Farmington calls only. We will provide the paramedic a vehicle to immediately go to the scene of the emergency to render care until the ambulance arrives. If less coverage is desired, the cost will be prorated."
"We do not think such additional paramedic coverage is necessary."
"However, we will be willing to sponsor such special staffing for Farmington outside the basic agreement if the Board of Selectmen want it and authorize the town to pay for it."
January 27, 2005, letter from FCHN to Town of Farmington.
"The hospital will continue to provide paramedic service to the ten communities, including Farmington, now served by our Farmington based unit. There will be at least two ambulances and two paramedics on duty during the day. There will be at least one ambulance on duty evenings staffed with a paramedic. In addition, the new NorthStar operating procedures will allow for paramedic staffed units based in Rangeley, Kingfield and Livermore to reposition for backup as needed during times of unusual high activity. We will shift personnel and equipment throughout the region for backup as ambulances become involved in patient transports and as emergency events occur. We will closely monitor response times and redeploy staff and equipment to best meet needs. Paramedic units based in Farmington will respond to certain calls in the AMPS region depending upon the exact location, as is the practice presently."
January 7, 2005, letter from FCHN to towns in the NorthStar service area.
"I have been asked if a paramedic service will be continued locally. Yes, it will be. We are going to obtain the flexibility to use other levels of EMS staff for patient transports where a paramedic is not necessary. For example, we conduct many transports of patients to and from nursing homes. Some of these transports do not require a paramedic. Franklin Memorial Hospital consistently delivers high quality care in all we do. This same approach will continue as NorthStar is formed."
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