Fayette EMS chief talks about response times
By Rebekah Sungala Herald-Standard
MASONTOWN – The director of operations for Fayette EMS answered questions regarding ambulance response times in the borough at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Rick Adobato said Fayette EMS has been the borough’s designated emergency service provider for about five years and that he wasn’t aware there were any problems.
Questions regarding the service provided by Fayette EMS arose during a meeting in May when Councilman Bob Brown said he received several complaints that ambulance response time is slow.
Brown said it allegedly took Fayette EMS 23 minutes to arrive on scene in one instance.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Adobato defended Fayette EMS and said the average response time for emergency calls in the Masontown area so far this year is 5.62 minutes.
“We’re not perfect, but we sure strive to be,” he said.
Adobato said calls for ambulances are answered according to various levels of urgency and that someone with a minor injury may have to wait longer for an ambulance.
When an ambulance is called out other ambulances are moved so that all areas remain covered, he said, noting that backups occur when people abuse the system.
Adobato said ambulances are required to respond to all calls whether or not the calls warrant emergency transportation.
According to Adobato, response times become slower when people call for ambulances that are not really needed.
Adobato said Fayette EMS does turn over calls to a back-up provider if they are busy and can’t respond in a timely fashion, but he said other ambulance providers are also busy and often out on their own calls.
Despite the flaws in the system, Adobato said he believes Fayette EMS does a good job of providing quick and complete emergency medical care.
“We try out best,” he said.
In unrelated matters, council announced water will be shut off July 2 to any residences that have outstanding and delinquent water bills.
Council President Harry Lee reminded people that it’s important to pay their bill on time because borough employees will not be available to turn the water back on July 4.
The next council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. July 8 in the borough building.