EMS in our communities

Northern Light Mayo Hospital emergency medical services (EMS), now part of Northern Light Medical Transport, has been responding to emergencies in Piscataquis and western Penobscot Counties since 1972. We know EMS, and we do it well.

Get to know us

We are proud to be the primary EMS provider for more than 20 communities and support other towns through mutual aid agreements. We have provided this service to our communities without taxpayer subsidy for 52 years.

Whether we are called upon to transfer a patient, treat an accident victim, or help a patient get up after a fall, we are ready to respond. In fact, in Dover-Foxcroft, 99 percent of patients brought to a hospital by EMS are transported by Northern Light Medical Transport.* Additionally, our service is on pace to transfer more than 1,000 between hospitals and other facilities in 2024.

Our team is skilled and experienced. When you see us, chances are you’ll be greeted by someone you know, including employees who have 20, 30, and even 40 years of experience.

We are committed to the people who live and work in our region. You will see us working at local sports and community events, volunteering at car seat safety clinics, and connecting with students in local schools. If you see our emergency medical technician Maged Shahin at a teddy bear clinic, make sure you give him a wave! 

We’re improving EMS in your community

Like most EMS providers in Maine, we are challenged with a workforce shortage, low reimbursement, increasing costs, and a very large, rural footprint. We are working on these issues every day to ensure a sustainable future for EMS in our region.

The single most important aspect of our EMS is our people. We partner with our community colleges to educate new emergency medical technicians, and we help existing EMTs achieve their career goals, often at free and reduced cost. Our education programs are not limited to our staff; we collaborate with municipalities and other EMS services to build a well-trained workforce.

We advocate at the state level for EMS and embrace a regional approach to EMS to maximize coverage and reduce costs for patients and communities.

A regional approach to EMS

A regional solution is the best way to ensure that an ambulance arrives, whether you live in a small community or a larger service center. A regional approach spreads the cost of EMS over several towns and makes the most effective use of EMS staff and equipment.

EMS is unpredictable. Occasionally an ambulance is out on a call, and a second or third ambulance is needed. Sometimes patients have specialized needs that require extra care. With five statewide divisions and regional bases in Dover-Foxcroft, Dexter, Greenville, Pittsfield, and Bangor, we position ambulances and crews where they are needed most. This allows us to cover 911 calls while also transporting patients between hospitals when higher levels of care are needed.

We can all play a part in improving EMS. That is why we have brought together EMS providers, fire departments, and municipalities to meet to discuss issues and collaborate on improving our regional network. We have a lot of work to do to build a stronger EMS network, but we are off to a good start. 

Dover-Foxcroft’s proposed municipal EMS service

The Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department is exploring expanding its EMS license to become a transporting service. Currently, the Fire Department responds to calls to assist Northern Light Medical Transport at the scene, but they do not transport patients to the hospital.

Under Maine law, the Maine Emergency Medical Services Board must evaluate the need for a new ambulance service before granting a license. This review considers response time and how duplicating services affects the EMS network.

With our track record of transporting 99 percent of patients in Dover-Foxcroft, we are confident that Dover-Foxcroft is well served, but we know that more information about our EMS network will inform the right approach for the community. We support the Fire Department in requesting an assessment to evaluate EMS in Dover-Foxcroft and the region. We will learn more about EMS in our area, including how a new service would affect coverage regionally. We look forward to working with all of our partners in the region as this process unfolds.

Do you have questions or thoughts to share? Would you like to stay up to date on what’s happening with EMS in our area? Connect with us!