By Jamie L. Costa
The Eagle-Tribune
BRENTWOOD, Mass. — A regional paramedic program created in response to the sudden loss of advanced life support services has handled more than 3,000 emergency calls in its first year, marking a milestone for a system built under pressure to avoid a public health gap.
“This is a privilege to stand before you today as we celebrate the successes of our first year and share the program’s future,” said Plaistow Fire Chief Chris Knutsen Friday morning at the Brentwood Fire Department.
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The Advanced Life Support (ALS) response teams operate out of Plaistow and Brentwood, effectively servicing most towns in Rockingham County, a 30% increase in coverage over Exeter Hospital’s program, which announced plans to discontinue in September 2024.
Hospital officials cited financial challenges in a statement, but the announcement threatened to leave dozens of rural towns in the county without immediate access to emergency care. Local fire chiefs, working with Executive Councilor Janet Stevens and the New Hampshire Department of Justice, worked to delay the discontinuation of the program to develop an alternative.
“About 90,000 residents in my district were left without service,” Stevens said.
The new service launched without interruption on March 21, 2025. Within minutes, ALS-2, based in Brentwood, responded to its first call.
Since then, paramedics have responded to more than 3,000 calls, performed nearly 6,000 procedures, administered more than 3,500 doses of medication, responded to 181 motor vehicle crashes that included multi-unit traumas, 68 stroke alerts and 67 cardiac arrests and completed 71 intubations and 25 rapid sequence intubations.
The work of the paramedics, fire departments and dispatchers has improved patient outcomes, Knutsen said.
“This group provides miracles to people who might not otherwise have a chance,” noted Brentwood Selectman Jim Michaud.
EMS Medical Director Mark Grossman said the program delivers a high level of pre-hospital care, including advanced airway management and field sedation, with a reported 99% success rate in certain procedures.
In taking over the program from Exeter Hospital, the Plaistow-based system covers about 30 communities, expanding beyond the footprint of the former hospital-based program and improving response availability.
Prior to launching in March 2025, more than $2 million was donated by Exeter Hospital and private donors to run the program. The hospital also donated two vans already outfitted with emergency medical equipment and the Plaistow and Brentwood fire departments were able to hire additional paramedics to staff the vehicles.
The program has since accepted a $1.38 million grant approved by the Governor of the Executive Council in December, and a $1.5 million grant secured through Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in February, bringing total funds raised to more than $5 million in its first year, about 60% of its five-year goal, Knutsen said.
“My promise is that we will continue to work hard, provide a great service and be there when you need us,” he said.
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