The City of Hoboken and the Hoboken Public Safety Department announce a significant milestone for Hoboken Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) and Volunteer Ambulance Corps (HVAC), with the City Council approval of a five-year contract solidifying HEMS/HVAC as the long-term provider of Basic Life Support (BLS) services in the City.
“As Mayor, there is nothing more important to me than the health and safety of our residents and that is why I’m proud that my administration, in partnership with HEMS/HVAC, agreed to this deal to ensure continued service,” said Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla. “This transformation is a testament to the five decades of hard work and dedication of our Ambulance Corps, along with recent efforts in overcoming hurdles, to become what I have no doubt will be a model for others striving for similar success.”
“This is a huge step toward ensuring long-term, high-quality, and affordable EMS services in Hoboken,” said Public Safety Director Ken Ferrante. “The new agreement is a vote of confidence in HEMS/HVAC and reflects the hard work and effort that has gone into securing the future of EMS in Hoboken.”
“In just a few short years, we’ve gone from the brink of collapse to, in my opinion, one of the top EMS agencies in the county and possibly even the country,” said Tommy Molta, Hoboken EMS President. “We thank the City of Hoboken, and the community, for the trust they continue to have in our team, which will continue to grow, learn, and no doubt, succeed.”
In 2022, following an efficiency report by an independent public safety research group, Hoboken EMS implemented a hybrid system, combining HVAC’s 50-plus year history of volunteerism with paid EMTs. This approach was introduced after a significant drop in volunteer numbers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, more than half of Hoboken EMS calls were handled by mutual aid providers, some of whom charged patients for services, resulting in longer, often potentially life-threatening, response times.
The hybrid system has proven successful. Today, Hoboken EMS has 169 members, including 20 paid EMTs working from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, with volunteers supporting during, and outside of, those times. The organization no longer relies on mutual aid, and in fact, often provides mutual aid to neighboring communities. Response times have dramatically improved, averaging an impressive two and a half minutes.
In 2022, the HEMS Board of Directors also introduced billing for EMS services, collecting payment from insurance providers only, continuing an HVAC policy of never billing patients directly. This initiative has been free of patient complaints, and has helped to improve the organization’s financial health, allowing it to reinvest in operations and resources, including the purchase of a new ambulance funded entirely through revenue, which also includes donations and fundraising money, using no taxpayer dollars. The new ambulance, awaiting state registration, will be put into service in the upcoming weeks.
Since the hybrid system was adopted, HEMS/HVAC has operated under a year-to-year contract. With uncertainty surrounding the future of the City’s local hospital system, the administration sought to extend that agreement, to ensure residents continue to receive reliable, cost-effective emergency medical services. The new agreement guarantees that Hoboken EMS will continue to thrive and remain a vital resource for years to come.
The new five-year contract runs through Dec. 31, 2029. Learn more about Hoboken EMS, including how to volunteer for, and donate to, HVAC, at: https://www.hobokenems.com.
