Northern Light Mayo Hospital and Town of Dover-Foxcroft to collaborate on EMS coverage

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Northern Light Mayo Hospital and the Town of  Dover-Foxcroft have announced a collaboration on emergency medical services coverage to strengthen the EMS network in Dover-Foxcroft and Piscataquis and Western Penobscot counties.

Beginning this summer, the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department will assume primary response for EMS calls in Dover-Foxcroft and Atkinson from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Mayo Hospital EMS will be the primary responder in those communities overnight. 

Currently, the fire department responds to calls to assist Mayo Hospital EMS at the scene, but they do not transport patients to the hospital. The fire department has been exploring expanding its EMS license to become a transporting service in Dover-Foxcroft. The license change paves the way for Mayo Hospital EMS and the fire department to  work together on primary coverage. 

The collaboration maintains coverage in Dover-Foxcroft while increasing Mayo Hospital EMS’ resources to respond to calls throughout the 23 towns its services. Mayo Hospital EMS will continue to operate bases in Dexter and Dover-Foxcroft and provide primary coverage for all of the towns it currently serves, except for Dover-Foxcroft and Atkinson during daytime hours. 

“This partnership ensures our residents receive timely, high-quality emergency medical  care by strengthening the collaboration between the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department and Northern Light Mayo Hospital EMS,” says Alsina Brenenstuhl, Dover-Foxcroft town manager. “With increasing call volumes in recent years, this allows us to make the  best use of available resources while maintaining reliable coverage. The fire department’s proven leadership and expanded EMS role reinforce their trusted  presence in the community.” 

“We have always thought regionally about EMS, and this is a natural extension of the  working relationships we have built over time,” says Marie Vienneau, BSN, MHA, FACHE, senior vice president and regional president, Northern Light Health. “In the past five  years our call volume has grown by 11 percent. This plan makes the best use of our EMS resources for the benefit of the entire region and supports Mayo Hospital EMS.”