Medical transportation company serves Middleboro for $0 a year

MIDDLEBORO — For over two years, Middleboro residents facing a medical emergency have relied on an ambulance from Coastal Medical Transportation to get them to the hospital. 

After hearing from Fire Department Chief Owen Thompson and Michael Pieretti, the company’s quality officer, the Select Board agreed to extend their current $0 contract for an additional three years at its Monday, Oct. 27 meeting. 

Town Manager James McGrail said relying on a third party saves the town money because it does not have to purchase, maintain and staff emergency vehicles. It also doesn’t have to pay for Coastal Medical Transportation’s services.

He said this is a “double edged sword,” as the town does not receive money for ambulance services, but also does not have to invest in the equipment and personnel they would require. 

When a resident uses one of these ambulances the company collects payment through their health insurance, so there is no cost to or payment from Middleboro involved. 

“We have a reliable ambulance service that’s done a great job for the last three years, and that will continue to the town without the additional expense of the capital costs of purchasing ambulances,” he said.

During the meeting, Thompson said the company has exceeded its contract requirements, responded to thousands of service calls and reduced the town’s mutual assistance requests from about 375 per year to about 35 per year, an approximately 90% decrease. 

He said it provided additional vehicles and offered Advanced Life Support more frequently than the contract required. 

“They have been an incredible vendor for us, an incredible assistant to us,” Thompson said. “Everything I’ve asked from them, they’ve done for us.”

McGrail added the company’s employees have felt like town employees, as they have represented Middleboro well and frequent community events including New Years Eve celebrations and high-five Fridays.

Several Select Board members said they appreciated Coastal Medical Transportation’s service to the town and willingness to exceed their responsibilities. 

“Thank you for service provided and lives saved,” said Select Board member Thomas White.

Pieretti said the company has been proud to work with the town and the relationship between the two has been positive. 

“It’s cliche, but we call ourselves a family, and that’s how we think of ourselves too when taking care of people’s loved ones,” Pieretti said. “We’re here to continue to provide that level of service.”