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SPENCER – Representatives from Cataldo Ambulance appeared before Selectmen to describe how they would provide emergency medical services should the town award them a contract.
Notably, they addressed a $425,000 quote in the Request for Proposals (RFP), which was nearly double the amount presented about six months ago.
Patrick Tyler, executive vice president, said the quote was a typographical error and the accurate total was $225,000 each year on a three-year contract.
Frank McNeil, senior director of operations, said the proposal is to have an advanced level service (ALS) ambulance 24/7 and a basic level service (BLS) vehicle for eight hours per day.
He said that is the “most responsible configuration at this time,” although changes can be made to meet the community’s needs related to response times and other factors.
McNeil said based on what they know from demand analysis, the eight-hour ambulance would likely run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Regarding cutting down on mutual aid from other towns, McNeil said it is Cataldo’s intent to keep calls within its system. He explained that Cataldo has ALS/BLS ambulances housed on 79 May Street (corner of Park and May). Starting in January, they will be providing services for St. Vincent’s Hospital.
They will have nine ambulances and he estimated response time to Spencer at 15 minutes.
He spoke about Cataldo’s similar services in Holyoke, where they are contracted with both the city as well as the medical center. The call volume is the equivalent of 72,000 with a population of 45,000 because that community lacks transportation and resources.
Selectman Ralph Hicks said he is concerned it may take a Cataldo ambulance 30 minutes or more from Worcester to respond to an emergency call in Spencer because of traffic and the distance.
McNeil said the company is open to having residents be part of a local call back service—such as participation by firefighters who are EMTs or other community members.
Hicks noted he thinks the town needs two ALS vehicles, with the second operating at least 12, possibly 16 hours per day. “If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it as right as we can without busting the budget,” Hicks said.
The Cataldo representative said the company runs a “dynamic, robust dispatch center” with GPS that tracks where all vehicles are in real time. “We have a lot of options for backfilling,” he added.
McNeil said the company also has experience working with regional dispatch centers—when Selectmen pointed out Spencer is joining the system in Rutland.
The representatives answered a series of other questions with main points including:
- There is no charge if transportation does not occur with standard operation procedure (SOP) police events where an ambulance is on standby such as with a barricaded suspect;
- They can incorporate protocols for a section 12 patient who must be restrained and transported to a hospital with police accompaniment;
- Police and fire personnel will be allowed to drive an ambulance in medical trauma situations instead of waiting for a third ambulance to arrive on the scene;
- Cataldo will provide training to police and fire personnel on how to operate their vehicles safely and in accordance with regulations; and
- The company is willing to provide monthly reports to the town with details on the nature of calls (psychiatric, difficulty breathing, etc.)
McNeil said they hope many existing employees choose to join Cataldo’s crew. He spoke about the advantage of having personnel who are familiar with the streets and specific, frequent patients of the system.
“Hiring folks familiar out of the gate is extremely valuable,” he said.
He said that newer employees would learn and understand those “nuances,” as well.
“We want to make that call as comfortable as it can be for the (patient),” McNeil said.
The Spencer Rescue Squad currently has a subscription service whereby residents pay a fee and will not be charged for an ambulance ride not covered by insurance.
“This is a real concern for a lot of elderly people in town,” Fire Chief Robert Parsons told the representatives. “A lot of people are on fixed incomes and Medicaid, Medicare…If there is a large balance and they can’t pay –it’s a big concern.”
Taylor said the Massachusetts Division of Insurance must approve these subscription services because “you are acting as if you are an insurer.” He said there may be an opportunity for the municipality to run the program.
“We could be a benefactor of that as a vendor,” Taylor said, adding Cataldo would be willing to talk to Town Administrator Jeff Bridges about the possibility.
He said the company would not withhold care or services and did not involve itself reporting medical debt to credit bureaus.
Selectmen Chair Jared Grigg noted that collection agencies would report it to the credit bureau.
In early January, selectmen hope to visit a Cataldo facility in Holyoke that has a comparable base (three bays) to Spencer. Members also expressed interest in visiting Cataldo’s dispatch communications center in Malden.
Selectmen plan to meet with the other bidder, Action Ambulance, on December 18 as part of its regular meeting, which starts at 7 p.m.
Bridges is also exploring the option of making Spencer Rescue Squad a town department.
