Aug. 2 Proposal Aims for Quicker Ambulance Arrival Times, Advanced Life Support Services in Springfield Twp.
(Crystal A. Proxmire, July 10, 2022)
Springfield Township, MI – Until recently, if someone had a medical emergency in Springfield Township, they’d have to wait for a private ambulance company to make the trip in – often coming from Pontiac to respond to the call. The long wait times were more than just an inconvenience when dealing with health and safety, and sometimes life or death. That’s why Township officials are aiming to bring ambulance, including Advanced Life Support (ALS) service in-house.
The Township instituted a trial program that began in 2021. And now they’re going to voters in hopes they will fund the program moving forward.
“Before the start of an ALS trial program in November 2021, Springfield relied on a private ambulance company to provide advanced life support and transport services, with back-up aid coming from surrounding departments. In recent years, the private ambulances were being dispatched from farther and farther away, often having to make a run to Springfield from Pontiac,” said Moreau in a press release about the millage.
“The Springfield Township Board and Fire Department have continuously monitored response times, call volume, and other factors that would trigger an adjustment in the types or levels of services provided by our department. With response times from the private ambulance company averaging over 17 minutes since 2019, this was a clear signal that it is time to make a change.
“Last August, Fire Chief Dave Feichtner and the Township Board approved a plan to start an ALS trial program beginning November 1, 2021. The trial allowed the Fire Department to begin improving service and response time without significantly changing our coverage model and provided several months to monitor expenses and transport revenue potential.
“Based on results of the trial ALS program, medical call response from our Springfield Township Fire Department reduced average response times to under 7 ½ minutes. This is a great improvement in service for our citizens; however, the current Fire Department funding and staffing that supports the trial ALS program is not sufficient to sustain the new services.
“At the April 2022 Township Board meeting, Chief Feichtner and members of the board conducted an in-depth analysis of the trial ALS program. After exploring personnel costs of various coverage models, reviewing data on response and mutual aid, researching pay and benefits offered by area departments, and monitoring transport revenue, the Board determined that a dedicated millage of 0.75 mill will be needed to support Advanced Life Support services long-term. The additional funding would allow the Township to hire additional full-time Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians, enhance station coverage, and maintain two fully equipped Advanced Life Support ambulances based at our fire stations.”
The millage proposal is on the August 2 Primary Election ballot. The 0.75 mill rate would cost 75 cents per $1,000 of taxable value – or about $94 per year for the average Springfield Township property owner. For more information, citizens can review this FACT SHEET for answers to common questions, or visit the Advanced Life Support Millage Information webpage for informational videos and to view sample ballots.
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