News

Baystate Health to transfer ownership of ambulance service to MedCare Emergency Health

January 01, 2014

Baystate Health is announcing an agreement to transfer the ownership of Baystate Health Ambulance (BHA) to MedCare Emergency Health, effective in April.

MedCare Emergency Health, a subsidiary of MedLife, a member of Medavie EMS Group of Companies, will continue to offer all services currently provided by Baystate Health Ambulance. These include 911 emergency and first-response responsibilities in Greenfield and other Franklin County communities including Bernardston, Gill, Montague Center/Lake Pleasant, Shelburne Center, Leyden, Turners Falls/Millers Falls and the Ervingside section of Erving, as well as patient transport and first-response backup in the greater Springfield area. Under MedCare, the ambulance services will continue to be based in Springfield and Greenfield.
 
“Baystate Health has always valued the role of Baystate Health Ambulance in supporting our mission, caring for our patients and ensuring their safe and timely transport,” said Maura McQueeney, Post-Acute Executive for Baystate Health. “Given our unprecedented imperative to focus on and continue to strengthen our core services—providing the highest-quality and most affordable care at our hospitals and medical practices and in our patients’ homes—this transition will place these ambulance services into the capable hands of MedCare Emergency Health, which has a proven track record of excellence and highly specialized expertise in ambulance, paramedic and other public-safety services.”
 
The Medavie EMS Group of Companies now provides emergency medical services in the greater Boston area under the name EasCare, and in several provinces of Canada, including on behalf of many provincial and municipal governments. Medavie EMS has long been at the forefront of delivering innovative models of care to its patients, including a community paramedicine program that is among the most advanced practices in the field today. Its dedicated EMS personnel are trained professionals who put their patients first, providing high-quality care in close partnership with hospitals, community health centers and skilled nursing facilities.
 
“We are honored to have the opportunity to partner with and care for the people and communities of western Massachusetts, and continue the tradition of outstanding service and compassionate care established by Baystate Health Ambulance,” said George McLellan, President of MedLife. “We are hopeful that our extensive EMS and public safety experience will allow us to build on the foundation that has been created by Baystate Health Ambulance. Through our partnership with Baystate Health, we look forward to designing and implementing innovative models of care that will enhance the out-of-hospital care programs to the communities that we serve.”
 
Through the transition and beyond, Baystate and MedCare expect that current BHA employees will transition into comparable positions at MedCare or get opportunities to secure positions elsewhere at Baystate Health.
 
Baystate Health and MedCare Emergency Health are already engaged in planning with partners in the medical community, local government, regulatory bodies and emergency management authorities to ensure a seamless transition of services. After the transition, Baystate Health will contract with MedCare Emergency Health for the services currently provided by Baystate Health Ambulance.
 
Financial terms of the transfer of ownership are not being disclosed.
 
About Baystate Health: Based in western Massachusetts, Baystate Health is a not-for-profit health care organization serving over 750,000 people throughout western New England. Services include an academic medical center, community hospitals, medical practices, home care and hospice and more. Baystate Health has a total of 824 beds across four facilities: Baystate Medical Center, the western campus of Tufts University School of Medicine, in Springfield; Baystate Children’s Hospital, also in Springfield; Baystate Franklin Medical Center, in Greenfield; and Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, in Ware. Visitbaystatehealth.org.