TRR photo by David Hulse County Legislator Don Trotta listened as Bethel ambulance captain Gerry Sarosy argued his case at the legislature’s Public Safety Committee on June 5. (Click for larger image)

Bethel wants to make its own choices

By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO, NY — Who gets to decide which advanced-life-support (ALS) ambulance gets called in an emergency, the county or the local ambulance service?

Gerry Sarosy, captain of the Bethel Ambulance Corps told the legislature’s Public Safety Committee on June 5 that it’s his decision and the policy dictated by the county’s emergency control center is wrong.

The issue arose earlier this year, when MetroCare, a New York City-based firm won the providers contract for the Catskill Regional Medical Center, displacing the Hurleyville-based firm, MobileMedic. The decision caused layoffs at MobileMedic and an ongoing competition between the two providers.

When a local basic-life-support (BLS) ambulance responds to a call that requires critical care, ALS backup is called. The county’s policy is always to call the closest ALS provider, but when both are equidistant, the communications center has been using an odd/even day schedule to alternate the calls. The idea, in part, was to avoid showing favoritism to anyone.

‘’We allocate our resources as we see fit,’’ said center director David Kimmel.

Noting that the county does not contribute to the funding of local ambulance corps, Sarosy replied, ‘’We are not your resources to direct.’’

Sarosy argued that state health department procedures leave the decision with the local service at the scene as to which ALS service is called.

Bethel also has a contract with MobileMedic, but the validity of the contract has been questioned.

Sarosy, who is also a paid MobileMedic employee, said former members of the Bethel corps are now working for MetroCare and he was not confident in the service he receives from the provider.

No MetroCare spokesman was present, but senior vice president James O’Connor said on Tuesday that he is confident about all his employees’ qualifications to provide ‘’good, sound pre-hospital care. The contract business is a county issue,’’ O’Connor said.

Public Safety Committee chair Kathy LaBuda called a conference following the committee meeting, where MobileMedic owner Albee Bockman also questioned the county policy.

Bockman reminded legislators that both ALS services are privately owned businesses, not public services. He said the county’s policy of odd/even dispatching was directly interfering with his business.

‘’Let [MetroCare] go out and solicit business business like I do. I don’t mind competition, but I want a fair playing field,’’ Bockman said.

LaBuda directed Assistant County Attorney Linda Levine to confer with Bethel Town Attorney Ed Cooke to resolve any issues on the town’s contract.