SHREWSBURY – At the Shrewsbury Town Meeting on May 16, members approved Article 48, which funds an emergency medical services study to evaluate the town’s current ambulance and emergency care practices.
The town’s ambulance service is currently provided by UMass Memorial EMS at no cost to the town. Recently, UMass indicated that they will no longer be able to provide the service for free, and will begin charging the town on July 1, 2024.
Town Manager Kevin Mizikar noted that the increase in cost is an opportunity for the town to reconsider its emergency medical services system.
The study will determine whether the town should keep the ambulance services with UMass Memorial, start its own service through the Shrewsbury Fire Department in a manner similar to neighboring towns or pursue a hybrid option.
Mizikar said that the town hopes to create faster response times for emergencies. The study will look at whether response time would be faster with a town-owned service.
The study will cost $65,000.
