Fire Rescue News - AtlantiCare will take over Hammonton life-support services after rescue squad disbands

Posted: Monday, August 22, 2011 9:27 pm

By LEE PROCIDA, Staff Writer pressofAtlanticCity.com

HAMMONTON - AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center EMS is now providing basic life-support services for the city after the Hammonton Rescue Squad officially disbanded Monday.

Saying that it may not be able to continue providing effective services for the community, the squad relinquished the duties it has provided for more than....Continue Reading

40 years.

Council, at its regular meeting Monday, appointed AtlantiCare to take over the service beginning today. The healthcare provider has already supplied paramedic services for Hammonton and the surrounding area since 2005.

"On behalf of council and the residents of Hammonton, I thank and commend the men and women who have served on the Hammonton Rescue Squad," Mayor Stephen DiDonato said in a statement.

In December, the local EMS service lost its specialty care transport license after the state Department of Health and Senior Services determined members improperly applied a ventilator to a patient. The squad regained its license earlier this year after an administrative hearing with the department to resolve any issues.

The squad originally received a license for basic life-support services in 1997 and a license for its Specialty Care Transport Unit in 2005, according to the department.

Rescue Squad Chief Chuck Kaczmarski did not return a call for comment Monday.

AtlantiCare Spokeswoman Jennifer Tornetta directed questions to DiDonato.

"The commitment to excellence the founding EMS volunteers demonstrated continued through the years as the squad transformed to be employed members," DiDonato also said in his statement. "We thank you for maintaining that commitment."

Contact Lee Procida: 609-457-8707 LProcida@pressofac.com

(The Elwood Fire Company will cover Hammonton with their Jaws unit until the Hammonton Fire Department as transferred over Rescue 9)