Lombard holds off on new ambulance fees

No new fees for ambulance service will be added in Lombard for at least six months, officials decided Thursday night.

The village will take six more months to track 911 call statistics before discussing a possible fee for residents who call for in-home assistance more than five times a year without needing transportation to a hospital.

Implementing such a fee would “create an impetus to have all the residents consider their options,” Acting Fire Chief Jerry Howell said.

It also could help Lombard fire personnel decrease the high volume of calls they respond to and avoid the risk of injury that comes with providing in-home assistance to elderly or disabled residents who often don't have full motor skills, Howell said.

Trustees at Thursday's village board meeting said they want time to gather more information because a social services agency the village began working with last summer might be able to decrease the number of calls for in-home assistance.

In 2011, the fire department responded to 293 calls for in-home assistance, six percent of the department's total 4,593 ambulance calls. And of those calls, 119 were placed by 11 residents who either have chronic health problems or are older than 65.

But fewer such calls have been coming in since the fire department began referring cases to Aurora-based social services agency Association for Individual Development, said Howell and Trustee Keith Giagnorio.

Statistics about how significant a drop in calls has been experienced aren't yet available. Trustee Bill Ware said it might be wise to study call volumes before deciding if a fee should be added. The original proposal included a $100 fee starting with the sixth call for in-home assistance in a calendar year and continuing for all following calls.

“I'm wondering if we should delay this to see what another six months would do,” Ware said.

Giagnorio said the social services agency can help by offering specific solutions to residents who often need medical or mobility assistance instead of implementing a blanket fee structure.

“It seems like we've got a small number; we know exactly where they are,” Giagnorio said about the 11 residents who frequently dial 911 for help around their homes.

The village board will take up the issue again at a workshop in October.

No matter if a new fee is implemented, Howell said it's the fire department's job to respond during times of need and residents experiencing medical issues should never hesitate to call.

“We will always respond,” he said. “There's no doubt about us responding when someone has an emergency or crisis.”