The battle over public safety and a county line has now moved on to Lansing.
In November, Groveland Township Fire Chief Steve McGee appealed to the EMS and Trauma Systems Section of the Department of Community Health in Lansing to intervene regarding an ongoing dispute over emergency medical calls into Atlas Township in Genesee County. The Emergency Medical Services Section is responsible for the licensure and relicensure of more than 700 life support agencies and more than 2,400 life support vehicles. In addition, the section approves local Medical Control Authorities which are hospital or groups of hospitals, providing community based prehospital emergency care oversight.
On Feb. 20, McGee, Atlas Township Supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones, Bruce Trevithick, executive director of the Genesee County Medical Control Authority (CCMCA), Marvin Helmker, EMS and Trauma Systems Section of the Department of Community Health, Atlas Township Fire Chief Fred Forys and Brandon Township Fire Chief David Kwapis gathered to discuss waiving a costly requirement for both Brandon and Groveland townships that would allow limited EMS support for Atlas Township when needed.
Groveland Township EMS is licensed in both Oakland and Genesee counties and provides ALS Transport services to both areas.
However as of Dec. 31, 2014 the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) requirement in Genesee County expired for Groveland Township EMS, banning any medical responses into Atlas Township. Due to low call volume, Goodrich and Atlas Township are not covered by an EMS, rather, depend on nearby private ambulance services from Grand Blanc, Davison and, until January, Groveland Township in case of emergency. As a result, response times in emergency situations have been a concern for township officials. Both Groveland and Brandon townships are just a few miles south of the county line and can respond in fewer minutes. The protocol established by Genesee County notifies an EMS stationed on Saginaw Street in Grand Blanc, the location of the nearest ambulance, thus prompting longer response times.
Trevithick emphasizes that CAAS meets the basic standards and are more comfortable with that for Genesee County. Conversely, Oakland County has more municipalities like Brandon and Groveland townships that have built-in standards. They have a different mechanism for oversight. Trevithick understands the CAAS requirement, which is renewed every three years, does cost a fair amount of money’anywhere from $10,000-$15,000. Trevithick said the CAAS requirement in Genesee County, not required in Oakland County, is due to the large volume of private EMS agencies located in the area and functions as oversight. In addition, Genesee County EMS are equipped with Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) systems to determine the closest unit to the request for emergency medical care, which went into effect in October 2013 in Genesee County.
McGee explained that Groveland Township was initially asked to join Genesee County as a border township due to the long response times they experienced in Atlas Township. Groveland Township completed the CAAS requirement in December 2011 and is now due for reaccreditation.
‘This ongoing requirement is very expensive and duplication of requirements for a public municipally is an economic hardship for our department,? he wrote. ‘We are the only fire department in Michigan required to meet such a standard. We are not based or posted in Genesee County and only respond for emergencies from our Oakland County stations when requested.?
While no resolution was reached, McGee said the meeting went well.
‘The most viable solution would be for Atlas Township to move into the Oakland Medical County Medical Control Board,? said McGee. ‘Unless Genesee County lessens their protocol regarding the CAAS there’s not much else that can happen to change the situation. Since the EMS and Trauma Systems Section of the Department of Community Health accepted the CCMCA’s protocol they don’t have the authority to override it, so it’s unlikely Atlas Township would leave.?
‘The next step will be to host a meeting between Oakland and Genesee counties medical control boards to determine the best way to resolve this,? he said. ‘Ultimately Genesee County will have to make a change regarding EMS.?
Brandon Fire Department had also served Atlas Township in some cases.
‘We just want to help out,? said David Kwapis, Brandon fire chief, whose EMS team has responded to eight to 10 calls per year in Atlas Township. ‘I attended the meeting in Lansing in support of our neighbors, Atlas and Groveland townships. We are willing to provide assistance when necessary when a private ambulance company can’t get there in 13 minutes.?
‘We are about saving lives here,? he continued. ‘There needs to be an agreement between Oakland and Genesee counties so Atlas and Groveland townships can respond when needed.?
Atlas Township Supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones was appreciative of the support for asking for a change in the ruling.
‘We are not going to give up, ‘she said. ‘The governor of Michigan sent a representative to the meeting in Lansing to hear the issue. There needs to be a viable solution.?
‘Ultimately there needs to be a representative elected by the people on the medical boards’someone who will support the community and the health and welfare of everyone, not just the hospitals or the ambulance companies. ?