Newtown Square Fire Co. Looking to Bring Back In-House Ambulance Service

NEWTOWN SQUARE–With 's ambulance services contract up in June 2012, several bidders are vying to take over the contract from the current provider, including the township's own fire company.

The township's current ambulance service provider is with Riddle Hospital, but the is looking to bring back the service in-house with them.

"We're definitely interested," said Fire Chief Doug Simpson about bidding for the contract. "We want to bring it back to a community-based system."

According to Simpson, the fire company has provided ambulance services for the township dating back to 40-50 years. It wasn't until about five years ago that the fire company had to release its reigns over the services.

"What it came down to was subsidy," explained Simpson. "We were not able to take the financial burden."

took over for approximately 10 months and then Riddle took over the services for Newtown. Now the fire company is categorized as a combination department, consisting of paid and volunteer firefighters and EMT personnel.

Mike Trio, Newtown Township manager, said the township originally looked at seven bidders and have trimmed down the list to a select three. Those three include the Newtown Square Fire Co., Crozer-Keystone Health and Riddle Hospital.

Trio said the ambulance services contract has been accounted for in the . Approximately $258,000 has been saved in the budget for the ambulance contract.

If the fire company were to win the bid for the contract, Simpson said additional EMS personnel would be needed but assured that "it doesn't meant that people can't assist or fill in" the roles or positions. Simpson said the fire company currently has EMT personnel who meet the qualifications for the ambulance service.

"There's a lot at stake here," said Simpson. "But I believe we could help the township residents and the cost."

Simpson said the benefits of having an in-house ambulance service comes down to familiarity with the township, back roads and routes as well as consistency of having someone they know on the field responding to emergencies.

"It's about knowing your surroundings and transporting someone quickly and safely. If someone doesn't really know the area, that could be negligence," said Simpson.

The contract has been brought up for discussion in previous budget workshop sessions this year in regards to the hefty price tag of the current contract. , "I don’t want the level of care and level of service that our township residents receive to be cut. We don’t want to be saving money on the expense of saving lives."

Competing against a couple of big-time providers from hospitals, Simpson said he only hopes that the supervisors "look at all the coverage and not just the bottom line difference."