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Middle Smithfield Township Board of Supervisors unanimously approved at its monthly meeting on Thursday last week a memorandum of understanding signed by the four companies that will provide emergency services to the township.
Representatives from Bushkill Emergency Corps, Suburban Medical Services, Marshalls Creek Fire Company and Med Mobile in attendance retired to a back room to hash out their final disagreements and emerged united. There are also separate agreements between the providers about billing and other issues. The arrangement will start on April 1 and will run for a six-month trial. During that time, there will be monthly meetings to iron out any problems that arise.
Bushkill Emergency Corps will be the first due advanced life support (ALS) and basic life support (BLS) provider and Suburban EMS second due for ALS. Marshalls Creek Fire Department would provide basic life support vehicles as a BLS second due and Suburban and Med Mobile would complement the network and provide transport services.
The township has operated without an agreement for 10 months after a longterm contract with Bushkill Emergency Corps expired last June.
Supervisor Chairman Scott Schaller said the Monroe County Emergency Control Center will assign BLS providers for secondary calls depending on which organization is available when Bushkill Emergency Corps's resources have been exhausted. "When BEC is back in service for Middle Smithfield Township, they will be dispatched for the next ALS/BLS call from the Control Center," the contract reads.
Furthermore, the contract states that "BEC hereby acknowledges that its first due Advanced Life Support crew does not provide and therefore shall never be unavailable for emergency calls as the result of performing non-emergency transports from a residents, medical facility and/or hospital."
The contract stipulates that each provider maintain each month detailed response statistics to meet the five-minute response minimum as well as "a monthly record of equipment maintenance and service which record shall by supplied to the township upon request."
The contract also said that each emergency provider must present a monthly financial statement and submit to an audit by the township when requested.
"This has not been an easy process," said township Solicitor Jennifer Wise, clearly pleased at their final agreement that involved a $10,000 study and report by two state consultants that ended back at Square 1 with Bushkill Emergency as the lead provider.
Wise noted how hard they all worked to come up with a system that will best provide emergency services to the township. The room exploded in applause in appreciation of the work that the four companies provide every day and for their new agreement.
"They are extraordinary people doing extraordinary things," added Wise.
Members of Bushkill and Marshalls Creek volunteer fire departments prepare one of the three victims to be airlifted to an area hospital. The three fishermen fell through the ice on Lake Monroe in Middle Smithfield Township on Thursday.ADAM RICHINS/Pocono Record
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Accident victim is flown.
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- September Football Dates at ESN Campus:
- 9/21 3:30 PM, 9/24 3:30 PM, 9/25 6:30 PM, 9/30 3:30 PM
- 10/5 - Football ESN Campus 4PM
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- 10/16 - Dr. Favini Dinner
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- 10/20 - General membership meeting 7:30 PM
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- 10/24 - Halloween Trail at Lehman Pk. 4 PM
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- 10/30 - Football ESN Campus 6 PM
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