As
member of the Governing Body and Chiefs of the various Emergency Services, the
number one priority is the care and safety of our residents. Over the course of this year, there have been
several instances in which the coverage and response times of the emergency
squad caused great concern to the Governing Body, Police and Fire Departments
and the residents of Riverside Township.
After conversations with the Delran Emergency Squad Administrators and
careful review, consultation and consideration, the Township Committee decided
that it was in the best interest of both the residents of Riverside and the
Delran Emergency Squad to terminate the service agreement. It is imperative to note, however, that this
decision is in no way a reflection of the care provided or the capabilities of
the Delran Emergency Squad staff. Rather
it is the belief that the Delran Emergency Squad is best equipped, at this
time, to service Riverside Township and its residents in a Mutual Aid
capacity.
As
a result, the Township Committee has entered into an agreement
with the Palmyra Ambulance Association (PAA) to provide Emergency Medical
Services, a copy of which can be found on the Township website. We understand that residents may have
questions regarding the agreement, so below are pertinent facts:
1)
The
PAA shall at a minimum provide staffing for one (1) primary Basic Life Support
licensed units 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including all
holidays. This unit shall respond to all calls for service within the Township
of Riverside and mutual aid calls pursuant to mutual aid agreements, when
available. DES will remain a mutual aid
partner.
2) The PAA shall supply a licensed ambulance unit that meets all federal, state and local standards for licensure. Additionally, PAA shall be permitted to use, at the authorization and direction of the Township, the following vehicles owned by the Township: a 2011 Mercedes Ambulance (identified as vehicle #2392) and will be re-numbered as Ambulance #8096. This Ambulance will respond when in service from the Riverside Fire Department, located at 4 W. Scott Street in Riverside.
2) The PAA shall supply a licensed ambulance unit that meets all federal, state and local standards for licensure. Additionally, PAA shall be permitted to use, at the authorization and direction of the Township, the following vehicles owned by the Township: a 2011 Mercedes Ambulance (identified as vehicle #2392) and will be re-numbered as Ambulance #8096. This Ambulance will respond when in service from the Riverside Fire Department, located at 4 W. Scott Street in Riverside.
3) The
PAA shall comply with all State and Federal Laws related to billing, including
any regulation imposed by the Department of Health or related
Medicare/Medicaid. Uninsured consumers shall be provided charity or
compassionate care or similar options to offset costs associated with services
provided. All billing and collection efforts, expenses and liabilities
associated therewith are the responsibility of the PAA. The Township is not
responsible for any deficiencies suffered by the PAA for uncollected amounts
from billing. Furthermore, it is the
intent of the PAA, to seek service reimbursement, only from insurance revenues
collected, for Township "Residents".
This means that "Qualified Residents" would not be personally
billed for insurance co-payments, deductibles, rejected claims, for unpaid balances
and if they are uninsured. Non-Township Residents' insurance providers will
also be billed, but unlike Township "Resident's", nonresidents may be
personally responsible for EMS service reimbursement balances not paid for by
their insurance carriers. In other
words, the PAA will continue its “soft billing” practices.
4) It
is its goal of the PAA to have an ambulance on scene to priority one calls
within 8 minutes and 59 seconds 90% of the time as per national standard. These
times are a guideline and the PAA will continuously work to improve or exceed
the standard call response times in accordance with industry safety standards
and agency operating guidelines. The PAA shall maintain documentation
reflecting call response time exceeding eight (8) minutes 59 seconds for all
priority one calls. All such data shall be included in the monthly report to
the Township. Call response times shall be in accordance with industry safety
standards and agency operating guidelines.
Should anyone have any questions or
concerns regarding the matter, please contact either Meghan Jack, Township
Administrator at 856-461-1460 x4 / mjack@riversidetwp.org or Chief William
Eliason at 856-461-8820 x1 / weliason@riversidepolicenj.org
Thank you.
Riverside Township Committee
Chief William Eliason
Chief Dan Norman
