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45th Parallel Emergency Medical Services
183 Corliss Lane
Colebrook, NH 03576
(603) 388-4150
January 14, 2009
The 45th Parallel EMS is a NOT FOR PROFIT private corporation, recognized by the Internal Revenue as a 501c (3). The agency is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of representatives appointed by the selectpersons from the following New Hampshire and Vermont towns: Bloomfield, Canaan, Clarksville, Colebrook, Columbia, Dixville, Lemington, Norton, Stewartstown, and Pittsburg; the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital, the Colebrook, Beecher Falls, and Pittsburg fire departments, the UCVH Emergency Department Medical Director, and two at large members elected by the board. The current board members are: President - Greg Placy (Colebrook); Vice President – Harry Brown (Stewartstown); Secretary - Clayton Hinds (At Large); Treasurer – Vacant; Bloomfield – Lynda Paquette; Canaan –
Greg Noyes; Clarksville – Michael Dionne; Columbia – Brett Brooks; Dixville – Burnham “Bing” Judd; Lemington – Vacant; Norton – Franklin Henry; and Pittsburg – Brian Dorman; the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital – Louise McCleery, Colebrook Fire – Robert Lawton; Beecher Falls Fire – Steve Young; Pittsburg Fire – Sandy Young; and the UCVH Emergency Department Medical Director – Vacant.
The resource hospital for the agency is the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital, which provides medical direction for providers in the field. The 45th Parallel EMS began operations on October 1, 2008 with a fleet of four ambulances three were donated by UCVH and one was bought from the Town of Pittsburg. It operates 24 four hours a day/7 days a week with a full time crew of four EMT-Intermediates, 2 EMT-Basics, twenty-five per diem employees and a Chief. Advanced Life Support providers respond on each 911 call. Advanced and Basic Life Support providers transport patients to other hospitals for specialty care, often with an Advanced Healthcare Provider on board, depending on the needs of the patient.
The 45th Parallel headquarters is temporarily housed on the grounds of the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital. The transfer ambulance is housed off campus in a heated garage on the grounds of the Colebrook Country Club. A building that will house all of the ambulances and operations of the 45th Parallel EMS is scheduled to be completed by September 30, 2009 on a building site, already purchased by the 45th, located on Ramsay Road off US Rte 3 in Colebrook.
The 45th Parallel EMS serves an area of approximately 900 square miles and is anticipating responding to around 750 calls in 2009. During the months of October, November, and December 2008, the 1st three months of our operation, we responded to the following calls as outlined below by town:
- Bloomfield – 1 medical emergency.
- Canaan - 23 medical emergencies and 1 motor vehicle accident.
- Clarksville - 4 medical emergencies, 2 motor vehicle accidents, & 3 fire standbys.
- Colebrook – 31 medical emergencies & 2 motor vehicle accidents.
- Columbia – 2 medical emergencies.
- Dixville - 2 medical emergencies & 1 fire standby.
- Lemington – 1 medical emergency.
- Norton – 1 medical emergency.
- Pittsburg - 22 medical emergencies, 2 motor vehicle accidents, 1 snowmobile accident, 4 medical alarm activations, 2 lift assists & 1 fire standby.
- Stewartstown - 22 medical emergencies including 9 at the Coos County Nursing Home, 1 motor vehicle accident, & 1 fire standby.
- Mutual Aid Requests –
- 1 Advanced Life Support (ALS) intercept with Errol Rescue
- 3 mutual aid responses for Errol Rescue
- 1 mutual aid response for Groveton Ambulance
- Interfacility Transfers –
- 26 to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH
- 3 intercepts with DHART air transport
- 1 intercept with DHART ground transport
- 3 to Veterans Hospital, White River Jct, VT
- 2 to Concord Hospital, Concord, NH
- 5 to Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital, Colebrook, NH
- 2 to Coos County Nursing Hospital, Stewartstown, NH
- 1 to Union Hospital, Lynn, MA
- 2 to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Portsmouth, NH
- 5 to Androscoggin Valley Hospital, Berlin, NH
- 5 to Littleton Regional Hospital, Littleton, NH
- 2 to Fletcher Allen Healthcare, Burlington, VT
- 2 to North Country Hospital, Newport, VT
- 1 to Weeks Hospital, Lancaster, NH
- 1 to Boston General Hospital, Boston, MA
- 1 to patient’s home in Colebrook, NH
The 45th Parallel EMS works closely with Beecher Falls Volunteer Fire Department and Pittsburg Fire and Rescue who provide FAST Responder service within their catchment areas. This tiered system is what has helped to improve the time that it takes for patient care to be initiated and be transported. The 45th Parallel is committed to providing all area EMS providers with the required continuing education that is necessary for them to maintain their EMT licenses. The agency is sponsoring an EMT-Basic course and a FAST Responder course in 2009.
The leadership of the 45th Parallel is dedicated to fiscal responsibility and to operating the service efficiently to minimize the burden to the taxpayers in the participating towns. In addition, the 45th is not immune from the challenges of health care reimbursement as we anticipate collecting 34% of charges. Though this may not sound like a significant amount, by health care standards, it is at or better than average. The agency has put a billing system in place and now has an approximate 20 day turn around for Medicare payments. Grant application opportunities are taken advantage of.
The 45th Parallel EMS is the first regional not for profit ambulance service in the state of New Hampshire. The agency started out as a brand new service with many learning curves along the way. The dedication of the leadership and staff of the 45th Parallel EMS has allowed the agency to provide Advanced Life Support services to the area and to reduce response times significantly. One individual who is retiring, Perry Richardson of Stewartstown and the Beecher Falls Volunteer Fire Department, has stepped down as a board member and Treasurer of the organization after many years of leadership. His drive, dedication, and motivation to others are one of the primary reasons that the 45th Parallel EMS is up and running as a viable and vibrant agency. We will
continue to strive to serve the citizens and visitors to the Great North Woods quickly and professionally in 2009.
Harry C. Brown, Chief
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