Amity Rescue/Wellsville Ambulance join forces to offer "Medic 100"

A new service launched Thursday night for residents who live in the service area covered by Wellsville Ambulance and Amity Rescue Squad. "Medic 100" took to the streets last night. The vehicle was donated by Amity Rescue and equipped by Wellsville to provided additional advanced life support services for those in need. The initial operation will be staffed by volunteers, but Wellsville Ambulance EMS Chief Erik Potter said the dozen or so medics will likely become paid staff. Last year, Wellsville partnered with a company that provides a paid EMT or higher to cover calls daily from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. Potter said Medic 100 will operate from 4 p.m.to 4 a.m. The EMS Chief said the state Department of Health called the program a "great thing" and supports "combining resources." Medical Transport Service also offers advanced life support services countywide and will continue to be utilized on an "as-needed" basis, Potter said. In the 1990's, Wellsville Ambulance launched the Rural Rapid Intervention Program (RRIP) which state certified the personal vehicles of chief officers to operate as Emergency Ambulance Service Vehicles to get medical care to patients more quickly. It was the first of its kind program in New York State. Don Zajicek has been the long-time leader of Amity Rescue and worked collaboratively to make Medic 100 a reality. Wellsville and Amity have a lengthy history of working together on projects. Both agencies share many members and medics. As Potter said, "there were many hands from both organizations involved in this project."
Medic 100 will have a coverage area from the Pennsylvania border to the Angelica town line. Potter said "it's a step in the right direction to improve EMS response at the advanced level."
The service is new and EMS officials say some minor bugs are still be worked out.