River Run Ambulance Service

Submitted by Linda Busick Worcester County Commissioner

On Saturday  September 6, 2009 I met with Chief Cris Cropper of the Showell Volunteer Fire Department

Other membes of this Department present for the meeting included Mike Davis, President, Mark Widgeon

Assistant Chief and Danny Tilghman, Ambulance Captain who will head up the EMS Division.

I related several of the concerns expressed by River Run Residents

1.  Distance from Showell VFD to River Run entrance, and the Distance from Ocean Pines - South Gate

     VFD station  -  This is exactly 2.5 miles from each of these locations.

2.  Family Membership for Ambulance service - River Run currently pays $36. per household

     The membership fee has been established by Showell VFD as $40 per household

3.  EMS coverage - Showell VFD will have coverage 24 hours a day - 7 days a week with

     paid perimedic on duty 12 hour a day  7 days a week and the remaining hours will be staffed

     by scheduled volunteers

I was apprised that it had been the intention of the Showell Volunteer Fire Department to contact

all the persons residing in their coverage area - to invite them to an Open House so that all

issues and concerns could be addressed.  This will still happen and once a date is established,

I will be glad to pass on the information.

Additionally, upon request, Chief Cropper and members of Showell VFD will be willing to attend

the River Run Home Owner's Association meeting on November 1, 2009.

I have related the above information to Don Sheppard earlier this date and he will also be in touch

with Chief Croppper. As a point of interest Captain Danny Tilghman resides on Dolly Circle - a neighbor to River Run

He is the EMS Director for the City of Pocomoke.(The EMS department is a municipal dept. in Pocomoke and the fire department is a separate volunteer department) In regard to his respone to calls-he will respond with the EMS Unit which is his bring-home vehicle, "as often as possible",there may be circumstances when he may be unable to respond. This is to provide immediate assistance, pending ambulance response.I will see that all emails and correspondence is brought to the attention of all appropriate parties.

Linda Busick -410-641-5873  Office - 410-632-1194  e-mail address - LinBusick@aol.com

THE FOLLOWING IS FROM THE HOA BOARD

 

Because there is a strong possibility of a change in the ambulance corps coverage in River Run we want to make all residents aware of the present situation and what actions are being taken.

Worcester County is divided into ten districts for the purposes of Fire and Ambulance coverage.  River Run is in the Showell district, but for the last 4 years we been getting our emergency ambulance coverage through the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Dept. because Showell had no ambulance or EMS Division.  Ocean Pines provides coverage 24 hours/day 365 days per year.  Our cost is $36/year per family,  which amounts to $4,700/year.  In addition they will send a bill to the family they provide service to and will accept any payment from their insurance coverage.  Apparently this is standard practice from volunteer ambulance corps.

Recently Showell announced that they have formed an EMS Division and will begin providing service January, 2009.  That means they will be taking over ambulance service from Ocean Pines on that date.  We have the following concerns over this move.

1-Showell is further away from Ocean Pines and time is often critical in emergency situations.
2-Apparently Showell will not have a paramedic on duty 24 hours/day, as Ocean Pines does, but 12 hours/day many days.
3-Their cost is projected to be $50/year per family, an increase of almost 40%, for potentiall reduced coverage.  They will also bill and accept any insurance coverage.

Because of these concerns we have written the attached letter to the Worcester County Fire Marshall, with copies to the Commissioners Office and the Ocean Pines and Showell Fire Depts.

If anyone would like to put their concerns in writing, Linda Busick, our local County Commissioner has said she will be taking them to the County Commission so they know our feelings.  Her E mail address is, linbusick@aol.com.

Jamie Englishmen, who most of you know is the President of the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Dept., has been very helpful in providing much of this information.  He cautions that the chances of any changes being made in any Fire District territory are very slim but, at a minimum, we must let our feelings be known.

The Board of Directors