Madison County EMS now providing ambulance service

WAMPSVILLE, N.Y. — The Madison County EMS agency is now operating as an ambulance provider with two ambulances serving the town of Sullivan and the rest of Madison County.

As of now, the agency is serving the area AMR had serviced for almost 40 years.

The EMS agency, owned and operated by Madison County, will serve both the town of Sullivan and village of Chittenango. It’ll also be available for mutual aid across all of Madison County.

The ambulances have already responded to “multiple calls,” Madison County said.

In its announcement, the county says its goal “is not to put current agencies out of business,” but rather to “assist where and when we can” to ensure that if a person needs emergency medical attention, someone will answer the call.

For years, the Madison County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Madison County Board of Supervisors have been working to find ways to help the EMS agencies that operate in the county. Following months of research and conversations with current EMS agencies, officials have come up with a “multi-tiered approach” on how together they can help the EMS agencies, create a Madison County EMS agency, and “give the residents a better service,” per the announcement.

During the Nov. 17, 2022 meeting, the Board of Supervisors gave Madison County OEM permission to apply for a county-wide CON (certificate of need). The Board on Dec. 1, 2022 authorized the purchase of the first ambulance for this agency.

John Becker, who chairs the Madison County Board of Supervisors, called it an “historic day” for Madison County and the Town of Sullivan.

“We welcome Madison County EMS to the Sullivan community and thank AMR for their years of service to our residents. Over the years we have seen the strain so many issues have placed on our EMS agencies. I am proud of the Board of Supervisors and the Office of Emergency Management for their dedication and commitment to alleviating some of that strain on our agencies,” said Becker, who also serves as the supervisor of the Town of Sullivan.

Officials also want to expand the current Madison County medic-car program (Fly Car) that began in February 2022. The program currently has two cars on the road seven days a week. The medic cars are scheduled 12 hours a day Monday through Thursday and from 8:00 a.m. Friday morning until 8:00 p.m. Sunday night. The schedule is based on need and is “adjusted as new needs are identified.”

The medic cars “fill any gaps” that may come up in the county for coverage by the area’s EMS providers. In 2022, the cars responded to 274 calls and have responded to more than 195 calls already in 2023, Madison County said.