Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Mahwah Emergency Medical Service, (Mahwah EMS) charge patients for their services?
No – We do not charge for our services and we never have, since our inception in 1947.
Q: My neighbor needed an ambulance. Why did two (2) ambulances arrive to his house?
What you probably saw was a Mahwah ambulance and Paramedic Unit. In New Jersey, Paramedics, who are hospital based, sometimes use large SUVs or ambulances. Sometimes referred to as MICU (Mobile Intensive Care Units), these vehicles and the Paramedics who operate them are an extention of the hospital’s emergency room.
Q: I remember seeing an ambulance crew transport a patient and I did not see the Paramedics. Why?
Simply stated, probably because the Paramedics were not needed. Each patient’s need is different for each ambulance trip to the hospital. It’s very likely that patient’s need did not require that level of medical attention. It’s also possible that the ambulance crew could have been on their way to rendezvous with the Paramedics, enroute to the hospital.
Q: Who makes the determination for whether or not Paramedics are needed?
There are very specific protocols that spell out the need for Paramedics. When someone calls 911 or your local police dispatcher, they can quickly determine the need for Paramedics, based upon the nature of the injury/illness/event. Additionally, the ambulance crew can also request to have Paramedics dispatched, should the crew determine there is a need.
Q: I got a bill for my ambulance trip to the hospital. I thought Mahwah EMS doesn’t charge. Can you explain?
You are correct, Mahwah EMS does not charge for their service. However, there is a charge for the hospital based Paramedics.
Q: What happens if I need an ambulance and the ambulance or the crew is not available?
At present, MEMS relies on long standing mutual aid agreements with other volunteer ambulance squads from a number of surrounding towns. These agreements are reciprocal. It is also understood and agreed that these mutual aid volunteer ambulance squads will never charge patients that are treated and/or transported from Mahwah.
Q: Are your members all volunteers? Are any of your members paid?
Yes, all of the members of Mahwah EMS are unpaid volunteers. Most of our members are otherwise employed and/or are students.
Q: What hospitals do you take your patients to?
Our primary hospitals are Good Samaritan, in Suffern, NY, The Valley Hospital, in Ridgewood, NJ and Hackensack University Medical Center, in Hackensack, NJ.
Q: What is the level of training of your typical member?
All of the members providing direct patient care are certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). At present, the curriculum for the EMT program is approximately 225 hours. EMTs are also required to recertify every three (3) years. Additionally the Drivers of MEMS are specifically trained in Ambulance Operations. All of the EMTs and Drivers are trained in CPR, which includes the use of an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator).
Q: Besides answering ambulance calls, what other activities does Mahwah EMS do?
There are lots of activities over and above answering ambulance calls. The members of Mahwah EMS are members of your community. Look for us in Town parades, Mahwah Day, High School Football games, Baskin Robbins’ Scoop Night, Touch-A-Truck, Safety Town, just to name a few.
Q: My elderly parents live in Mahwah and I do not. Is there any I can do to help you in the event they need an ambulance?
That’s a great question. Even if you’re not elderly, everyone should have written down on a piece of paper you own information, such as your medical history (conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, etc.). Also include the names of any and all medications you are presently taking and any allergies that you might have.
Q: What if I have an “Advanced Directive” or a “Living Will”? Should I have these documents available for the ambulance crew?
A “Living Will” is a type of “Advanced Directive”. It is somewhat limited in its scope. Some people have a specific type of Advanced Directive called a “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) order. This written document, when presented and authenticated is honored by ambulance crew members as well as other first responders. If you have a DNR, for yourself or another family member who you are caring for, please allow the first responders to see this document.