TOWN OF NEWBURGH – The Town of Newburgh Emergency Medical Services (TONEMS) has initiated a plan to establish an Advanced Life Support division (ALS). The new ALS division comes at a time when many ambulance services throughout the region are experiencing staffing shortages and are bogged down by responding to 911 calls that do not require an ambulance.
According to the statement by TONEMS, Rockland Paramedics Assistant Chief of ALS, Ralph “Bo” Tunno, with more than 30 years of EMS experience, is joining the new division. “Bo is well-versed in staff recruitment, development, orientation, and business administration,” the statement said. “With his education background in Emergency Medicine and Business Management, Bo will be able to oversee the continuing progress of our ALS division.”
Paramedic Gerit Blauvelt, with 20 years of service in the Hudson Valley, has been named Second Assistant Chief of ALS. According to TONEMS, Blauvelt has experience working as a Director of Field Operations, Lieutenant, Clinical Coordinator, and Tactical EMS Team Leader. “With his experience, we will be able to provide incoming paramedics with the appropriate clinical knowledge and quality improvement.”
The announcement also included the naming of Richard Lenahan as Second Assistant Chief of Training. The paramedic has over 24 years of field experience as a paramedic in various functions. Lenahan’s certifications will allow TONEMS to train and certify its ALS and BLS personnel in-house.
