Warrant Committee handout about ALS

ALS OPTIONS OVERVIEW

The Warrant Committee has prepared this Options Overview for Article 15.

Option 1.  As Is – For a Limited Time Period

Rely on neighboring communities to provide ALS intercept service (as we have in recent past) while evaluating an optimal long term solution

Expected Investment:             Potential $25K to study committee (no over-ride required)

Service:                                   Effective – ALS intercept will continue to work well for us if neighbors continue to support us while we evaluate other solutions

Uncertainty:                           Not a long term solution

Option 2.  Contract out ALS Services

Contract with a private service to dedicate an ambulance and 2 Paramedics to Medfield 24/7

Expected Investment:             $570K per year (based on one quote only)

Service:                                   Response time fast (have 2 ambulances available – ALS & BLS)

Ambulance utilization low

Staffed from a pool of paramedics with high utilization/experience

Uncertainty:                           Control of resources, Potential to share costs & services

Option 3. Hire FF/Paramedics

Hire paramedics and equip current ambulance to accommodate ALS service

Expected Investment:             6 hires < $700K ($544K-$606K per year +  $90K startup costs)

(Lower if we hire entry level Paramedics but will grow to this level within 7 years as a result of step increases)

4 hires would decrease investment 30%

8 hires would increase investment 30%

Service:                                   Response time fast (assuming no concurrent calls),

Equipment and Paramedic utilization low

Uncertainty:                           Number of hires/level of coverage
New Fire Chief not yet available – who will hire/train?
Cost (contract negotiations ongoing, retirement benefits not included,
budget to support required wage growth without future over-rides)

Option 4. Regionalize ALS Services

Share resources (either hired or contracted ALS) with other towns locally

Expected Investment:             Unknown – but lower than other long term options.

Potentially half (or less) than other options; could it be a profit center?

Service:                                   Response time fast (assuming no concurrent calls) especially if ambulance housed in Medfield, Utilization higher

Uncertainty:                           Partners, cost sharing, location of ambulance