POUGHKEEPSIE – Under order from a bankruptcy trustee, TransCare Ambulance Services terminated its service in Dutchess and Putnam counties Friday night.
Both counties were aware of the company’s bankruptcy filing and had plans in place to replace them.
Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro directed the partial activation of the county’s emergency operation center to coordinate the implementation of the county’s contingency plans to ensure ambulance service coverage formerly handled by Transcare.
Molinaro said the county has been aware of the Transcare situation over the past several weeks. County EMS officials coordinated with Mobile Life Support Services, EMStar Ambulance, and Northern Dutchess Paramedics for the activation of the coverage plan developed in January and approved by the state and Hudson Valley Regional Emergency Medical Services Council.
In Putnam, EMStar became the new advanced life support service effective Saturday. County Executive MaryEllen Odell authorized the activation of the county’s contingency plan. But, because of the short notice of shutdown, Putnam Emergency Services Commissioner Tony Sutton was able to activate three EMStar emergency response units to replace TransCare’s four. He is hopeful to have the fourth unit and a basic life support unit in service early in the new week.
Sutton said most of the TransCare staff had accepted positions with the new company.
EMStar ambulances quickly pressed into service
Putnam EMS personnel, including former TransCare
workers sign new contract
before beginning
their midnight shift
