Ambulance Service in Akwesasne…Who you gonna call?

The community of Akwesasne needs to be aware of how they are served. Whether it is in a restaurant (healthy food is good health) or at a clinic (prompt professional service is good health), in a garage (safety of your vehicle). But most importantly, when it comes to a life and death situation, knowing how you are served is by far the most valuable piece of information. On Wednesday, January 13, 2016, Indian Time was informed the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe signed an agreement with the Seaway Valley Ambulance Service, it was information that was imperative to the community. When Indian Time called the SRMT Communication office, they confirmed this information. The conversation which ensued prompted the article “SRMT Signs Agreement with Seaway Valley Ambulance Service” informing the community of this change immediately.

According to MCA, their first responders are trained in New York State as all emergency responders need NYS certification to answer calls on the southern portion of Akwesasne. According to Seaway Valley Ambulance Service, their first responders are trained in New York State as well.

When a community member, who resides on the southern portion of Akwesasne dials 911, your call will go directly to the Seaway Valley Ambulance Service. If you call the HAVFD you will be served by the Akwesasne Mohawk Ambulance service with back-up service from the Seaway Valley Ambulance Service.

When the Seaway Valley Ambulance Service was contacted, Mr. Phil Brown offered this information, “The SVAS has answered over 1000 calls in Akwesasne. We follow a certain protocol for each call. As each case is assessed, the option of using ALS is there. Some calls require ALS such as diabetics, persons with COPD and other upper respiratory illnesses, as well as respiratory complications that lead to seizures. All technicians are trained in the same place as other first responders; they are trained in Canton, NY.”

When questioned, he went on to say, “The contract with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe is not finalized.”

IT also inquired about the length of time the SRMT has been in negotiations with them, Mr. Brown said, “I was asked that I not answer any questions in regards to negotiations and refer any questions back to… “Joe”, that is what he said I could call him. And I will honor that.” “Joe” referring to Tsiorasa Barreiro, as Mr. brown stated respectfully, he did not want to mispronounce Mr. Barreiro’s name and I offered Mr. Barreiro’s name to him.

According to the SRMT Communication Department, the SRMT reached out to MCA in July 2015 without receiving a response; “These requests were not met and, to date, there has not been a proposal made by the MCA that addresses these issues, such as the availability of Advanced Life Support transport at all times, 24/7/365. During the past six months, the Tribe has made every effort to engage in discussions prior to the expiration of the contract on December 31, 2015.”

Last week an MCA official said, “We have been meeting but no contract was reached, but regardless we are still going to respond to calls.

On Wednesday, January 20, 2016, MCA released this statement, “The Akwesasne Mohawk Ambulance staff all operate with a minimum requirement of Basic Level Ambulance Service (EMT-B), with several staff having an additional certification of Emergency Medical Technician-Critical Care Level (EMT-CC). The Akwesasne Mohawk Ambulance meet all requirements for staff to safely operate an ambulance within all jurisdictions of Akwesasne.”

Indian Time sent a series of questions on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 to the Communications office at SRMT to clarify information. Indian Time graciously received answers to our questions on Wednesday, January 20, 2016, from the Tribe; as well, they provided the following press release as provided in this article.

SRMT Press Release issued on Wednesday, January 20, 2016

TRIBE DEVELOPS SAFETY NET FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES

Clarification to Akwesasne & First Responders

Akwesasne, NY — Information concerning ambulance services was prematurely shared with our community members on January 14, 2016, both in print and on social media. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Health Services, Administration and Tribal Council sincerely apologize to our community and our dedicated first responders for the alarm following the headlines. In the absence of a renewed agreement between the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne regarding Ambulance Services, which expired on December 31, 2015, the Tribe’s Director of Health Services and Administration leadership developed a safety net for our community members, including a strategy to provide dedicated Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance staffed by paramedics, 24/7/365, increasing the availability of emergency response to calls for help while decreasing response times for Akwesasne. This information was shared prior to a final contract and before the Tribe was able to issue a written statement and present at the Tribal Monthly Meeting.

The Tribe took action to increase the availability of Advanced Life Support transport, which is staffed by paramedics, at the direct request of concerns expressed by community members at Tribal Monthly Meetings. “Akwesasne’s first responders are highly trained and provide excellent care, 24/7, with one truck and one crew,” stated Tribal Chief Beverly Cook, Family Nurse Practitioner. Our community has approximately 1400 homes; when there are multiple calls, traumas and life-threatening emergencies, our first responders’ resources are stressed. “By developing a safety net while we continue to work with MCA to augment the incredible service their first responders provide, it is our intent to build a strong infrastructure that meets the needs of our growing community.” ALS equipped ambulances and paramedics provide the critical level of care for patients requiring heart monitoring and patients with potential airway compromise.

“Requests to increase availability of coverage and provide Advanced Life Support to reduce intercepts by surrounding community transport have been the center of our discussions with MCA,” shared Tribal Chief Ron LaFrance. “The care of our elders, our children and anyone in need is what is most important, which is why we wanted to work with MCA to develop a plan to increase access to Advanced Life Support transport, also known as level III transport, which is imperative for care provided to trauma patients and those with life threatening emergencies.”

The Tribe has engaged Seaway Valley Ambulance to dedicate a truck 24/7/365, with the intent of working with MCA’s leadership to finalize a new contract and increase resources over the next year.

Our community members are encouraged to attend an informational meeting at Tsi Tetewatatkens /Senior Center at 5pm this Friday, January 22, 2016 to learn the facts about the contract status and the impact of increasing availability of first responders to Akwesasne. This will further be discussed at our Enniska/February 6, 2016 Monthly Tribal Meeting to be held at 10:00am in the Community Building Lobby.

On Thursday, January 14, 2016, after Indian Time was on the newsstands, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and Mohawk Council of Akwesasne issued this joint statement at approximately 7:00pm.

CHANGES IN AMBULANCE SERVICES

Territory of Akwesasne – The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne is informing the community that in addition to the Akwesasne Mohawk Ambulance Unit, Akwesasne will have an additional emergency response service available.

This additional service takes into account the community’s increasing needs and will provide both the northern portion and the southern portion of Akwesasne with a primary responder and a backup unit for ambulatory care. The Akwesasne Mohawk Ambulance Unit will continue to serve Akwesasne, with Seaway Valley continuing to provide support in a backup role. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe has engaged Seaway Valley Ambulance to provide response services to the southern portion, with the Akwesasne Mohawk Ambulance continuing to provide support.

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and the Akwesasne Mohawk Ambulance want to reassure the community that the provision of an essential first responder ambulance service is of utmost importance. Our responsibility to care for vulnerable community members still remains our number one priority.

For more information, community members are encouraged to attend the February 6, 2016 Monthly Tribal Meeting held at 10am in the Community Building lobby. There will be an additional presentation made at an upcoming MCA General Meeting.

HAVFD Chief Derek Comins issued this statement on the morning of Friday, January 15, 2016.

HAVFD Press Release

On behalf of the Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department I offer the following statement in regards to the recent joint press release from MCA and SRMT.

The Hogansburg Akwesasne VFD is committed to providing prompt and professional service to the community of Akwesasne, as part of this commitment we have a duty to provide our residents and visitors access to timely medical care at any emergency scene we attend.

HAVFD has reached out to Franklin County Emergency Services and advised that Akwesasne Mohawk Ambulance will be the primary response EMS agency to all HAVFD emergency incidents. For any calls within the southern district of Akwesasne we will follow our current mutual policy with Bombay and Fort Covington EMS when AMA is not available.

Franklin County has a requirement to dispatch Seaway Valley Ambulance as a result of the agreement with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. HAVFD will not interfere with this agreement and we will work with Seaway Valley in a professional manner as we always have.

Indian Time will provide more information as it comes available. Once again, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe will have an informational meeting at Tsi Tetewatatkens /Senior Center at 5pm this Friday, January 22, 2016 concerning the facts about the contract status and the impact of increasing availability of first responders to Akwesasne. This will further be discussed at their Enniska/February 6, 2016 Monthly Tribal Meeting to be held at 10:00am in the Community Building Lobby.