AUGUSTA, Maine (WGAN) Gov. Janet Mills announced Tuesday that the state has called on federal ambulance teams to assist the state’s EMS crews.
The Mills administration says the Federal Ambulance Teams provided through FEMA will be hosted by eight Maine hospitals, from which they can transfer patients to other healthcare facilities. The additional teams will be used for non-emergency transportation to match patients with appropriate facilities that have open beds.
The announcement came on the heels of an address by President Biden on Tuesday. He spoke about new initiatives to help states as the nation grapples with the more contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19, which has quickly become the dominant variant nationwide.
The Mills administration says it’s awaiting more information about when those crews are expected to arrive.
The following hospitals will be hosting the new federal ambulance teams:
- Maine Medical Center, Portland
- Southern Maine Health Care, Biddeford
- Franklin Memorial Hospital, Farmington
- Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick
- Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston
- MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta
- Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor
- St. Joseph Hospital, Bangor
“I am grateful for this additional federal support and I am hopeful that, along with actions by my administration, it will help alleviate the strain on our health care system,” said Gov. Mills. “Maine people can do their part by stepping up to get vaccinated, regardless of whether it’s their first or third shot. It’s the right thing to do. It’s the only way to get through this surge without losing more lives.”
The state has also sought assistance from the Maine National Guard, which was called in to help in non-clinical roles at healthcare facilities with the goal of freeing up beds in the state’s hospitals.
