Sipayik ambulance service stops but expected to restart

While the Sipayik ambulance service stopped operating in May because of financial difficulties, the service is being reorganized and expected to start again, although a startup date has not been determined. Meanwhile, the Passamaquoddy tribal government at Pleasant Point has entered into a one-year contract for Downeast EMS to provide ambulance service for tribal members.
The ambulance corps has been overseen by the Pleasant Point Health Center, but Passamaquoddy Chief Marla Dana says the plan is to have it run as its own operation in the future. "We're reorganizing it to make it run better."
Dana says the operation ceased both because of financial and staffing issues. "They were not bringing enough in to keep it running, from private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid." She also says there were not enough EMTs to keep the operation going.
The Pleasant Point Ambulance Corps had two ambulances, providing basic and advanced life support, and a staff of five. According to Dana, Craig Barrett, who is a paramedic, has applied to run the ambulance service and is working on getting the service inspected.
While Dana notes that tribal members are concerned about the ambulance service having ended, she says, "We're trying our best to get it going." She notes that the contract with Downeast EMS will end once the Sipayik service starts up again.

Difficult to find personnel
Eddie Moreside, Downeast Emergency Medical Services' (DEMS) director, says that Downeast EMS has been covering for Pleasant Point since May 1. Doing so adds about 200 runs a year to what DEMS already does for its service communities. "We've had to, in some cases, put on more crews on some days," he says, or move crews and ambulances around. However, it hasn't caused undue stress. They've employed a few of the Pleasant Point ambulance staff, but because DEMS has about 45 part‑time and full‑time staff on its roster, there are plenty of staff to utilize for additional runs.
Pleasant Point pays DEMS a stipend based on a $27 per capita fee, and the insurance companies are billed for ambulance transport costs. While reimbursements are always a headache, Moreside says, "I don't see where it will really affect us per se, but it's to be determined." He adds, "So far things have been running pretty smooth, and Downeast EMS is glad to provide the service to them." He points out that Pleasant Point may find that it's saving money by using the ambulance service rather than having to staff its own.
Moreside says, "Indications are that they [Pleasant Point] are trying to get people," but the legal requirements attached to personnel are making it difficult. An ambulance must have, at the very least, a licensed EMT riding in the back of the ambulance with the patient, Moreside explains. In addition there are rigorous Department of Labor educational requirements that must be met.
With Washington County's demographics, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find ambulance personnel. He has seen the same kind of problems happening in the western part of the county. "We're fortunate," he adds, to have 45 people on the roster.