Medic 1 Ambulance service and Southwest Michigan Community Ambulance Service are seeking to merge, and they’re asking for support from municipalities in their service areas.
Speaking to St. Joseph City Commissioners this past week, Medic 1 Director Jason Wiley said the way ambulance services operate hasn’t really changed in decades, and the two want to update their model and increase efficiency by teaming up.
“So we want to come together to take Medic 1 Ambulance and SMCAS Ambulance and combine that into what we would like to call Southwest Michigan Mobile Health Care,” Wiley said. “This is a new agency with a new vision and a new mindset and a completely new operational model which is actually the most important piece.”
For example, Wiley said sending highly trained paramedics on all calls, whether they’re needed or not, isn’t an efficient use of that staff. Also, Medic 1 and SMCAS plan to implement 12-hour shifts for staff that currently work 24 hour shifts. As they prepare to join forces, the two are seeking to start a community paramedic program and start running SUVs for some transport jobs.
Medic 1 asked St. Joseph City Commissioners Monday to approve a $1 per capita increase to the city’s service charge so Medic 1 can purchase new echo units, or specialized vehicles with advanced life support equipment. The cost overall to the city will be $7,750. Commissioners agreed.
Meanwhile, Wiley and SMCAS Director Brian Scribner are making presentations to local governments throughout Berrien and Cass counties to detail their merger plans. The final merger would have to be approved by the board of each ambulance service.
