Westport now providing 24/7 EMS coverage

WESTPORT | As volunteer fire and rescue services decline across the state, many localities are changing how they deliver services to residents, including Westport, which now provides 24/7 EMS coverage. Westport is now staffed with three full-time paramedics, two part-time paramedics, one part-time advanced-level EMT, and four volunteer EMTs. For the past few years, Westport's emergency medical services were primarily overseen by volunteers, with the exception of one full-time paramedic who worked 10-hour day shifts and a part-time individual who filled in on weekends. Both positions were partially covered financially by Essex County. "Unfortunately, with the new EMS stabilization plan in Essex County, paid staff were laid off, so it was up to each individual agency to figure it out," said Jim Thomsen, the new EMS coordinator for the Westport Emergency Squad. "Thankfully enough, we took this challenge upon ourselves, and we were able to get everything worked out." This push was driven in part by New York State's efforts to rescue EMS from an ongoing crisis marked by a depleted workforce, rising costs, and poor insurance reimbursements. Last month, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation — the "#RescueEMS" package — directing all counties to develop and maintain their own comprehensive, coordinated EMS system plans. Counties must now work with towns to provide the state with up-to-date assessments of the current level of EMS care. Municipalities must also decide together how to deliver emergency services, whether that means purchasing a new ambulance or contracting with a commercial EMS provider. Municipalities must also determine how to fund EMS within the state property tax cap, as Hochul recently vetoed a bill that would have allowed them to fund EMS outside the cap. Luckily enough for Westport, that was not a problem. "We were able to provide our own 24/7 coverage without going over the tax cap," Thomsen proudly exclaimed, stating that this endeavor was made possible with the use of short-term refund tax money and already budgeted funds. "Now, we're able to provide the town and neighboring communities with so many added benefits without any added cost to the taxpayers." In addition to 24/7 coverage for local residents, Westport can now provide ALS (advanced life support) intercepts when a paramedic-staffed ambulance meets a BLS (basic life support) ambulance en route to a hospital, enabling advanced medical care, such as starting IVs or administering medications. Starting Feb. 1, Westport will also offer medical transport services, providing both emergency and non-emergency ambulance services for urgent medical needs, specialized critical care, and more. "Everybody is really struggling to get all the funds together to provide these benefits for locals, but Westport stepped up; the fire district and department really stepped up and were able to get this done all within a matter of three months," said Thomsen, who has also been a paramedic for almost 40 years. "It's hugely important." Lawmakers and EMS leaders warn that without new funding options, many rural municipalities could see longer response times, reduced coverage, or even lose ambulance services altogether. For instance, last year, Lewis (for the second time) attempted to form an EMS taxing district, which would've helped cover the cost of new professionals to serve alongside the existing volunteers. Lewis currently contracts with the Elizabethtown-Lewis Emergency Squad, a 24-hour service primarily composed of volunteers. However, due to rising costs and a decline in volunteers, hiring professionals to serve alongside volunteers has become necessary to ensure 24/7/365 coverage. Late last year, the Keene and Keene Valley fire districts also began planning to switch from "all volunteer" to on-call paid ambulance services — a fairly new system in which individuals are paid a set rate to be on call and a higher rate if a call comes in. According to the 2024 NYS EMS Workforce Report, "the number of active EMS responders in New York State declined by 17.5% between 2019 and 2022. This decline jeopardizes the ability of communities to respond to emergencies effectively, especially as the demand for emergency medical care continues to rise." In New York, interested individuals must complete courses and exams to volunteer as EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians). Other requirements include being at least 18, possessing a valid state driver's licence, and being physically fit. "Currently, there are only a few select agencies in the county that are able to provide 24/7 EMS as we do," said Thomsen, referring to other emergency services in municipalities like Au Sable Forks and Lake Placid. Now, it's up to other municipalities to do the same or something similar. All plans must be submitted to the State Emergency Medical Services Council and the State Department of Health on or before June 2026 for review and comment.

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