CMT makes its pitch

NORWICH – Touting experience, highly trained paramedics and state-of-the-art equipment, Cooperstown Medical Transport (CMT) is in a “very strong position” to become the next commercial ambulance provider in Chenango County, a co-owner of the company told the county’s full Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

CMT is still awaiting approval from the state Department of Health to expand its operating license into the county, but co-owner and Chief Financial Officer Margaret McGown says the private ambulance is planning as if it will be granted full-time status in Chenango.

“I believe that CMT is in a very strong position to become the commercial ambulance service provider in Chenango County,” McGown said, addressing the board at its monthly meeting Tuesday. “We look forward to working with the EMS providers in this county, and hope that we will soon have certification from the New York state Department of Health to be allowed to start our permanent operation here.”

CMT is seeking a 60-day operating emergency certificate from the health department while it’s under review. That decision could come in next few days or weeks.

If permanently approved in Albany, which could take at least three months, CMT intends to operate at least one 24-hour crew in Chenango County to start. Once up and running, the company plans to increase ambulance numbers during daytime hours, McGown said.

County emergency officials expect CMT to pick-up the majority of the county’s hospital-to-hospital patient transports, which was Superior Ambulances role before it shut down its ambulances in Chenango last month. McGown claimed the company will take on whatever calls its dispatched to do, pointing out that 63 percent of CMT’s 375 calls per month in Delaware and Otsego counties are to 911 emergencies and the rest are for transports.

Story Continues Below Adverts

“Will you respond to 911 calls in any part of the county?” Pharsalia Supervisor Dennis Brown asked McGown. “Or will you pick and choose which ones you take?”

“If we have a ‘Certificate of Need’ to operate in Chenango County,” McGown responded, “I don’t think we’re allowed to pick and choose where we’ll go.”

CMT is expected to offset the loss of Binghamton-based Superior Inc., which handled between 2,000 and 3,000 calls per year before cutting back its operations in Chenango County over the last nine months, eventually pulling out its last ambulance Oct. 25.