Public expected to hear medical services details
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

JACKSON - Jan. 23 is the tentative date that has been set for a public meeting that will focus on the provision of emergency medical services in Jackson.

Atime and location for the meeting will be announced in the near future. The information is expected to be posted on the township's InternetWeb site at www.jacksontwpnj. net.

For several months, municipal officials have been discussing possible changes in the way that Basic Life Support (BLS) services will be provided.

Options include the township forming its own professional BLS team or hiring a firm to provide those services. Two firms - MONOC and Quality Medical Transport - have submitted bids to Jackson in response to a request for proposals.

MONOC currently responds to BLS calls during the daytime hours and the volunteer Jackson First Aid Squad responds to BLS calls during the evening and overnight hours.

The issue was discussed at the Jan. 3 meeting of the Township Council.

"Going into this project we thought there were two options available to us, (a township BLS team) and MONOC, but a third option has presented itself and that is Quality Medical Transport," Councilman Scott Martin said.

Martin said he received rave reviews about Quality Medical Transport from officials in municipalities that have used the firm's services.

"They were recently named the 2006 EMS Provider of the Year," he said. "We spoke to Maryann Giblin at the State Department of Health, who also gave them a very strong recommendation."

Martin said at this point Quality Medical

Transport appears to be giving Jackson the best choice by providing three ambulances from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and an ambulance backup from 6-11 p.m. to back up the volunteer Jackson FirstAid Squad. The volunteer squad would be the primary BLS responder between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Regardless of what the council decides to do with the BLS services, MONOC will continue to provideAdvanced Life Support responses in Jackson.

MayorMark Seda said, "I have no preference, but ultimately we are still left in the same position. Is it going to be outsourced? [Where] is the accountability?"

Seda said Quality Medical Transport has no history of service in Jackson, while MONOC does.

On the other hand, Seda noted that MONOC representatives said all Jackson officials had to do was ask for another ambulance and it would be provided. Then the MONOC representatives told township officials how much it would cost, $150,000, the mayor said.

"We don't want to make mistakes midway through the contract," Seda said, referring to the possibility that Quality Medical Transport may not be able to handle all the calls for service. "The concern is making the calls within the time limits. MONOC, a paid agency, did no better than a volunteer agency."

Seda said he wants residents to have input and to hear a presentation from those companies firsthand.

"My concern is dollar value and service," the mayor said. "I think the public should have the opportunity to have that information shared."

The mayor said a location for the public meeting is being sought.