By Scott Taylor
Sun Journal
AUBURN, Maine — Fire Chief Frank Roma is urging councilors to take another look at establishing a city rescue and ambulance service.
“We are currently operating a hybrid system, where we provide advanced life support and first response service,” Roma told councilors Tuesday at a workshop meeting. “We respond first and a back-up, third party ambulance service provides transport.”
The city currently sends EMT-trained fire personnel in a rescue vehicle to most emergencies. City EMTs stabilize patients, and then hand them off to United Ambulance for transport. United Ambulance pays the city a $100,000 annual fee to provide the service. The city doesn’t get any other financial gain from the situation, since insurance companies don’t reimburse for emergency response — just transport.
Full story: Fire chief backs city ambulance service