Springfield Township officials want to be sure of the details before agreeing to locate an American Medical Response ambulance with the township fire department.
The township board on Thursday, Dec. 11 directed attorney Greg Need to draft needed revisions in a proposed ‘Letter of Understanding? and ‘Business Associate Agreement,? both intended to define the relationship between the local government and the private business.
Fire Chief Charlie Oaks had worked for the agreement to deal with perceived inadequacies in the township’s emergency medical service. In emergency situations in which a regular ambulance service is not nearby, the proposal calls for fire department emergency medical technicians to respond with the ambulance.
Need and elected officials had several questions concerning the terms of the agreement. Some will require minor changes in wording, while others call for significant understanding of responsibilities and accountability.
‘Certainly the basic concepts are acceptable, with some revisions to the agreements and the form,? Supervisor Collin Walls said.
A primary question surrounded the liability of firefighter/EMTs who take out the AMR ambulance. When Oaks said the firefighters become ‘AMR employees,? Walls jumped to clarify the term as ‘independent contractors.?
‘We are not they’re employees,? Walls said. ‘We would never be they’re employees.?
Regardless of the term, AMR agrees to include a ‘hold harmless? agreement to protect the township.
‘As long as we have an adequate agreement, according to our insurance carrier, we should be OK.?
Firefighter/EMTs will be required to take AMR training in patient privacy policies to comply with the new Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
Another question arose over who has responsibility for ‘maintenance? of the ambulance. Oaks said the intent is for AMR to handle any and all mechanical maintenance, while the fire department is to ‘maintain? the stock of medical supplies in the rig. AMR will pay for such items, but the firefighters will be responsible for obtaining and stocking the supplies.
The agreement also refers to standard mutual aid policies, but Oaks said that would be limited to major emergencies in neighboring municipalities and not for whatever calls AMR may receive.
‘We’re not ready to go out to rest homes,? Oaks said.
Need made several other suggestions to clarify wording on issues such as billing of patients (to be done by AMR, not the township) and the fact that the legal agreement must be with the township government, not the fire department.
Space is at a premium at the township’s two fire stations, but Oaks said the ambulance will not require indoor storage. AMR equips their rigs with engine block heaters and interior heaters to ensure readiness for use, he said.
Firefighter/EMTs will be paid their regular fire department wages, while AMR will reimburse the township $80 per transport call to cover those personnel costs.
Trustees agreed to allow Need, Oaks and AMR officials to finalize the agreement without returning to the board for further approval. That should allow the new EMS service to begin in January.