Fly cars to reduce EMS response time in Sullivan (VIDEO)

June 30, 2024
4:46 am

MONTICELLO- Sullivan County legislators took a major step in addressing the ongoing emergency medical services shortage by unanimously approving the funding of four staff ”fly cars” throughout the county. The company selected to perform the service is Bronx-based Senior Care.

Under their agreement with the county, Senior Care will be paid $5.4 million over two years to provide four “fly car” SUVs that will carry EMTs or paramedics with specialized medical equipment to first aid calls. These “fly cars” will not transport patients.

The use of the “fly car” service is expected to cut response times and is set to begin later this year. Scott Schulte, commissioner of emergency management for the county talk about why Senior Care was selected.

“We were fortunate that the Senior Care CEO is a Sullivan County resident, so there were direct ties back to the community,” Schulte said. “So that was a positive and Senior Care was wholeheartedly on board with doing anything they could to improve EMS deliverables to the county.”

The CEO of Senior Care, Michael Vatch, has been a paramedic since 1989 and is confident his company can deliver the needed services to the county, even if he has to respond to an emergency himself. He splits his time between New York City and his home in Woodridge.

“Here in Woodridge, I’ve become part of the community,” Vatch said. “When I talk to folks up here they always want to know whose house I bought. I told them that I bought Norman Kantrowitz’s house. Everybody knows him, so it’s very homey. I love the people up here.”