Windham Ambulance to discontinue service

By Amanda Renko (Staff Writer)
Published: February 8, 2012

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Regional EMS officials are working to ensure that a four-township service area retains ambulance coverage when the Windham Ambulance Association goes out of service next month.

The association has filed paperwork with the state Bureau of Emergency Medical Services to discontinue service effective March 10 due to staffing shortages. Beyond that date, neighboring EMS groups will assume Windham's coverage area, including Windham, Warren, Orwell and Rome townships, said Windham Township supervisor David English.

"It's definitely going to have an impact on our community," English said of the discontinuation of service.

Manpower and equipment could be diverted from neighboring EMS groups that will cover the area formerly served by Windham Ambulance, English said. In addition, response time to Windham's coverage area could possibly be delayed once the changes take effect, he said.

Township officials are also concerned that Windham's ambulance will be given to another service, English said. While the association will continue to respond as a quick response service unit, the ambulance will not be used. However, English hoped that another EMS group could form in the future that would make use of the vehicle.

"We want it to stay active in the township somehow," said English of the ambulance.

Officials from the Bradford Susquehanna EMS Council continue to meet with neighboring ambulance services to redistrict EMS territories and work out how to best serve Windham's coverage area, English said. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Windham Community Hall.

According to minutes from a Jan. 27 meeting to plan for Windham Ambulance's discontinuation of service, a tentative redistricting plan has been established and will be reviewed and modified Thursday as needed.

While Windham Ambulance officials are able to withdraw their request up until the effective date, that isn't likely to happen, according to meeting minutes. The organization recently had seven new membership applications, but regional EMS officials present at the meeting determined that Windham would continue to lose members in the future.

Further options for consolidation of services beyond the March 10 stand-down date were discussed at the meeting, including personnel sharing and the continuation of mutual aid agreements between EMS crews.

Amanda Renko can be reached at (570) 888-9652; or email: arenko@thedailyreview.com.

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