Local EMS may realize some improvements in Atlas Township.
Lloyd Fayling, 9-1-1 director for Genesee County, said within a year a new mode of EMS dispatch could be in place that could speed service to the southeastern regions of the county.
Under the new plan, each ambulance that wishes to participate will be required to have an 800 MHz radio along with an automatic vehicle locator (AVL) in each unit. Currently 13 ambulance companies with 36 units are active in Genesee County.
Currently in Atlas Township the closest ambulance services are available in Grand Blanc, Davison and Groveland Township.
Fayling said Genesee County has invested $13 million into the radio base that uses the AVL, similar to GPS, which can update central dispatch every quarter mile the location of a unit.
‘One of the greatest expenses for ambulance companies is setting up and establishing a home base for operations,? said Fayling. ‘While there may be some initial expenses to get started, the new system will be far less costly. Each ambulance will then receive the call and have a map on a computer screen, similar to what police patrol cars do now, to locate where the victim is located.?
The current issue with 9-1-1 is that the EMS dispatcher uses standard phones to contact the ambulance service.
‘We are not in direct contact with the ambulance or even know their availability,? said Fayling.
‘It’s not uncommon to contact a half dozen bases using phone lines to get an ambulance rolling to the victim. That means more time in getting help in an emergency situation.?
Under the new plan, 9-1-1 dispatchers will have a computerized map to know where the ambulances are all the time.
‘If the ambulances are on the move or stationary we can now get in touch with the driver,? said Fayling.
‘Or, many times if the ambulance is transporting a patient out of the area and are on their way back in, we’ll know that too, or at a hospital. Ultimately that will mean more in-service EMS than we have now.?
The biggest issue will be keeping the EMS spread out over the area and not bunched up, added Fayling.
Atlas Township Fire Chief Fred Forys is pleased the county is making progress.
‘Right now EMS cannot roam more than one mile from their home base,? said Forys. ‘Under the new plan the ambulances will be required to stay spread out and be on street corners thought the county. Ultimately they will do away with bases and can now park in Goodrich or somewhere in Atlas Township.?