Windham Ambulance Corp Named Agency of the Year

WINDHAM - It took an unexpected act by the Regional Emergency Medical Organization (REMO), naming the Windham ambulance corp as its “Agency of the Year,”  to do what was thought impossible.

“I’m speechless. Can you imagine that?” town supervisor Thomas Hoyt said, laughing heart-fully, learning of the award, earlier this month.

“This is some feather in our cap for a little town like ours, especially when you look at the whole system, with REMO covering six counties.”

In addition to Greene County, the Hudson-Mohawk Valley sector of REMO oversees all EMS agencies in Albany, Columbia, Rensselaer, Saratoga & Schenectady counties, including several larger metropolitan areas.

Greene County also topped the list with EMT Thomas Todd, from the town of Ashland ambulance squad, honored as Basic Life Support (BLS) “Provider of the Year.”

And the recipient of the prestigious “Harriet C. Weber EMS Leadership Award” is Greene County Emergency Medical Systems Inc. chief of operations Steven Near.

The three selections gave Greene County nearly half of REMO’s seven annual recognitions, which in the field of emergency rescue services particularly, is nothing to sneeze at.

Windham has always been ahead of the curve, forming its paid system in the late 1990’s as volunteer efforts began to fade from the landscape.

Prior to then, volunteerism flourished and Decker’s Funeral Home provided emergency rescue, arriving at the scene in somewhat startling fashion.

A funeral home hearse was known to show up. “A ride to the hospital is a ride to the hospital,” Hoyt says, noting, “they never had to come to my house, obviously. I’m still standing.”

Over the years, Windham has become one of the leading entities in the county, offering Basic Life Support (transport to a medial facility) and Advanced Life Support (on-board paramedics).

Their reputation has now spread beyond local borders, led by ambulance administrator Davia Montie who also sits on a special Task Force researching the possibility of forming a countywide system.

That study is well underway, supported by the county legislature which has hired outside consultants to gather data and make recommendations for moving forward as EMS services evolve toward full time workers.

The town of Windham, two years ago, finished the creation of a new ambulance headquarters, investing $3.5 million in the project.

Some money has been found to soften the blow of a large loan, including $600,000 in grants from the office of Senator Michelle Hinchey.

The county legislature delivered $100,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds and another $160,000 came courtesy of the Catskill Watershed Corporation for stormwater control reimbursements.

Hoyt says the town annually budgets $800,000 for ambulance expenses, getting a return of $300,000 from insurance billings, leaving a hefty $500,000 gap, not directly charging residents of Windham.

Windham has a contract with the neighboring town of Jewett to provide primary coverage and equips two ambulances, frequently having two available crews, most notably during the ski season.

“Agency of the Year” is bestowed upon a unit that, “strives for consistency in EMS excellence and exhibits exemplary performance when providing or supporting pre-hospital emergency medical care,” according to REMO.

The BLS “Provider of the Year” is recognized for “contributions to the community including dedication, responsibility, professional behavior, ingenuity, special skill or insight in the EMS environment.”

And the “Harriet C. Weber EMS Leadership Award” goes to an “individual exhibiting longevity, innovation/dedication, responsibility, executive and management skills in establishing, maintaining, promoting or expanding EMS organizations, agencies and committees at the community and/or State level,” according to REMO.

REMO is one of 18 state-designated program agencies servicing and overseeing the needs of New York’s pre-hospital EMS providers through coordination and education

Its 6-county area encompasses 3,500 square miles, a population of more than 900,000 and accounts for an annual call volume in excess of 150,000.

Other 2024 award recipients include advanced life support “Provider of the Year” (Harjup Singh of Guilderland Ambulance), “Physician of Excellence” (Dr. Warren Hayashi), “EMS Educator of Excellence” (Mohawk Ambulance Service and “Excellence in EMS Quality and Safety (Michael Prezioso of Wilton EMS).