45th Parallel Emergency Medical Services
46 Ramsey Road
Colebrook, NH
03576
ANNUAL REPORT TO THE TOWNS
January 14, 2010
The 45th Parallel EMS is a NOT FOR PROFIT private corporation, recognized by the Internal Revue as a 501c (3), providing 911 response and interfacility transfers to the ten New Hampshire and Vermont towns in its catchment area. 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 – Michael Dionne (Clarksville); Bloomfield – Lynda Paquette; Canaan – Greg Noyes; Columbia – Brett Brooks; Dixville – Burnham “Bing” Judd; Lemington – Vacant; Norton – John Woods; 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 – Ferial Ladak MD. Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital remains the medical resource hospital for the 45th which means it provides medical direction for it.
The 45th Parallel EMS has been in operation for fifteen (15) months with a startup date of October 1, 2008. The 45th maintains a fleet of three ambulances and operates 24 hours a day/7 days a week with a full time crew of 6 EMT-Intermediates, 26 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 will move from the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital to their new facility located at 46 Ramsey Road, just off Route 3 near the Colebrook/Stewartstown town line on about February 1st, 2010. The
facility has four bays for the ambulances, offices, a training room, a living area, kitchen area, bedrooms, and bathrooms.
The 45th Parallel EMS serves an area of approximately 900 square miles. During 2009, we responded to 893 911 calls and transfer requests as outlined below by town and/or hospital:
Bloomfield – 15
Canaan – 67
Clarksville - 14
Colebrook – 232
Columbia – 28
Dixville – 15
Lemington – 5
Norton – 8
Pittsburg – 134
Stewartstown – 107
Coös County Nursing Hospital- 41
Mutual Aid Requests –
Errol - 8
Groveton Ambulance - 2 ALS intercepts
Interfacility Transfers –
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH - 96
Intercepts with DHART - 19
Veterans Hospital, Hartford, VT - 4
Concord Hospital, Concord, NH - 11
Coos County Nursing Hospital, Stewartstown, NH - 2
Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Portsmouth, NH - 1
Androscoggin Valley Hospital, Berlin, NH - 19
Littleton Regional Hospital, Littleton, NH - 8
Fletcher Allen Healthcare, Burlington, VT - 5
North Country Hospital, Newport, VT - 5
Weeks Hospital, Lancaster, NH - 18
Boston General Hospital, Boston, MA - 1
Area patients’ homes - 5
Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, NH - 6
Huggins Hospital, Wolfeboro, NH - 1
Alice Peck Day Hospital, Lebanon, NH - 2
Country Village Healthcare Center, Lancaster NH - 1
Speare Hospital, Plymouth, NH - 1
Lakes Region Hospital, Laconia, NH - 3
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA - 1
Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA - 1
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA - 1
Fleuimont Hospital, Coaticook, PQ - 1
Maine Medical, Portland, ME - 1
Frisbee Hospital, Rochester, NH - 1
Memorial Hospital, Conway NH - 1
Healthsouth, Concord, NH - 1
Ledgeview Living Center, West Paris, ME - 1
The 45th Parallel EMS continues to work closely with the Beecher Falls Volunteer Fire Department and the Pittsburg Fire and Rescue who provide FAST Responder service within their catchment areas. As a part of our original commitment, with the help of a USDA grant, the 45th has distributed 17 Fast Responder Packs and Automated External Defibrillators (AED) to first responders in the service area. The packs contain basic and advanced life support equipment to stabilize and treat patients while awaiting the arrival of the ambulance. The packs are distributed in the following communities: Bloomfield - 2, Canaan - 3, Clarksville - 1, Colebrook - 5, Stewartstown - 2, Pittsburg - 3 and 45th Parallel EMS base - 1. The 45th Parallel continues its
commitment to all area EMS providers by providing the required continuing education so that they can maintain their EMT certifications. In 2009, the agency sponsored an EMT-Basic course with nine (9) students successfully becoming National Registry EMT- Basics and a First Responder course with another nine (9) students successfully becoming Nationally Registered First Responders. All of the new EMT-Basics have become per diem employees of the 45th and the new First Responders have joined the 45th and other EMS agencies in the area. There were also two First Responder and two EMT-Basic refresher courses offered to provide the mandatory continuing education for area providers. Eight candidates successful completed the Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Instructors course and are now teaching First Aid/CPR/AED classes in the community. The 45th continues its commitment to maintain the 36 Public Access Defibrillators and provide training
in their use. The process to become a Red Cross Training Center continues and the one of the first goals of increasing the number of CPR instructors has been met.
The 45th was invited to be a presenter at the Coos County Symposium as one of the Big Ideas in Coos County that made a difference in the North Country. We were also the recipient of a $100,000 grant from the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund in support of the new facility. The agency was also chosen from amongst the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund grantees to participate in The 2009 Tillotson Learning Community. The 2008 USDA grant was used to equip the Fast Responder Packs, AED’s, and purchase 25 Minitor V pagers. In 2009, the USDA awarded the 45th a $100,000 grant, along with guaranteeing the financing of the new facility. The 45th was also granted 2 CPAPs (a device used to treat patients in respiratory distress) from New Hampshire EMS. The
45th has now received $ 274,590 in grants since its inception.
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. Grant application opportunities are taken advantage of. The awarding of the two grants will reduce the overall cost of the mortgage by over $ 200,000 in interest expenses alone. The agency has put a billing system in place and now has an approximate 20 day turn around for Medicare payments. During 2009, the 45th billed
$ 1,539,999.98, but we anticipate that we will only receive $ 608,675.92, as the healthcare reimbursement system does not reimburse a majority of the costs incurred. Upcoming changes to Medicare reimbursement rates are of concern as they will further decrease the percentage of the costs that are paid by Medicare.
The 45th Parallel EMS is the first regional, not for profit ambulance service in the state of New Hampshire. The agency has exceeded its expectations during 2009, and the dedication of the leadership and staff of the 45th Parallel EMS has allowed the agency to provide the highest quality Advanced Life Support services to the citizens and visitors to the Great North Woods. The 45th will face many challenges in 2010 with the economic realities of the region and the country impacting our operations. The Board of Directors, Chief, and the employees of the 45th Parallel wish to thank the communities for allowing us to serve them in 2009 and look forward to serving them in 2010 from our new facility.
Harry C. Brown, Chief Michelle A. Hyde, Deputy Chief
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